The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

School building unsafe for students
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Feb 22 — A recent incident of plaster falling off the ceiling of a class room in Government High School at Landran village, near here, has thrown up several questions about the safety of the students and the teaching staff. Last Wednesday, while students of a section of class X of the school had a miraculous escape, a teacher received minor injuries.

Is the school building safe ? Was the annual maintenance work of the building being carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD)? A visit to the school revealed that the building was inaugurated in 1951 when Mr M.S.Randhawa was Commissioner, Ambala. According to a teacher, " The maintenance of the building was restricted to giving a fresh coat of white wash after some years. Only a toilet block was constructed".

After the incident, officials of the PWD visited the school and declared the rooms unsafe. They reportedly told the school staff that they were taking up the matter with the higher authorities. Enquires reveal that for 343 students of different classes on the rolls of the school, there were only 10 rooms of which seven were temporary sheds being used as classrooms. Some of the sheds leaked during rains.

Some rooms of the school had been closed due to their poor condition. A portion of the school was flooded during rains. The school authorities have also written to the district administration in this regard.

Cultural programme organised
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — A cultural programme — Sham Sandhuri 2000 — was presented at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, here by the Shingar Kala Manch and the AIM Group today.

Starting more than an hour late, the evening began with a delightful Satyam Shivam Sundram dance by seven-year-old Divya. The evening then progressed on to action songs, choreographed by Meena Vadher on various popular Hindi and Punjabi numbers like Jungle Mein Koyle Boley, Teri Meri Ek Jind and Ishq Tera Tadpey.

The programme evoked a good response from the audience. It also featured various skits, based on songs, titled Banjara, Ghagar and Dhol Maiyya. Other highlights of the day were Mirza, a folk song by Gurpreet Saini, and bhangra.

Fifteen students of the city participated in the programme. The event was directed by Harjit Masuta and produced by Tarun Mehta and Rajiv Manocha.

Scouts and Guides Day celebrated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — Scouts and guides of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 47, celebrated Lord Baden Powell's 193rd birth anniversary here today.

Their enthusiasm for community service was evident from the attractive stalls of self-prepared eatables. The stall on herbal products was greatly appreciated by visitors.

The officiating Principal of the school inspected the stalls and appreciated the efforts of the children, who worked under the guidance of Scouts Master O.P. Sachdeva and members of staff of the vidyalaya.

SAS NAGAR

The Scouts and Guides Day was also observed by students of Government High School, Kumbra. Students and members of staff of the school spoke on the duties of scouts and guides.

Puja of Class IX, Kanwaljit of Class VII and Mandeep of Class VI won first, second and third prizes, respectively, at a speech competition held on the occasion.

Mr Balbir Singh, Headmaster of the school, said scouts and guides were taught to be friendly and helpful to others. He added that being disciplined was an important part in the life of a scout or a guide.

Experts outline 'border' issues
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — Traditional ideas of exclusive territory were being challenged by the diverging processes of globalisation, said Dr Anssi Passi of the Department of Geography of the University of Oulu in Finland. He said this in his paper at the conference on Rethinking Boundaries: Geopolitics, Identities and Sustainability at Panjab University here today.

Dr Passi's paper also talked of ideas on boundaries and fixed concepts of identity which faced challenge in the changing world order. The paper made an attempt at discussing the meaning of boundaries and evaluating the problems affecting traditional border studies. The late 1980s and 1990s had witnessed a dramatic increase in the boundary studies; the major themes include divergent forms of cross-boundary interaction and regionalisation.

Dr Rekha Chaudhary of the University of Jammu, in her paper, made an attempt to trace the process of political identity in Kashmir with a view to understanding the complexity underlying political responses of Kashmiri people. The alienation which had manifested in the valley in the past decade, was linked with the issues emanating from the politics of identity.

Dr Timothy Doyle of the University of Adelaide in Australia, said in his paper that with the so-called "disappearance" of nation-state boundaries, social movements were increasingly operating in transnational space.

Dr Paula Banerjee of the University of Calcutta, and Dr Ranabir Samaddar, Director of the Peace Studies Programme in Kathmandu, in their paper, said border studies in recent years had mostly taken form of the studies of cultures and their separating. These were now a part of discussions on identity, interpenetration of cultures and dynamics of otherness.

Dr Jaidev 'Jay' Singh of the College of Forest Resources of the University of Washington, in his paper, said concern over environment was among the top issues facing developed countries, together with concerns about national security and economic development. In other words, nations realised the importance of adopting multilateral approach, which might work more effectively than the sum of unilateral efforts which ignored environmental system and dynamics.

Dr Eiki Berg of the Department of Political Science of the University of Tartu in Estonia, said the establishment of the border between Estonia and Russia had led to the rupture of the family, cultural, social and economic relations. On the political level, there were contradictions which had historical precedents.

Prof Bhupinder Brar of the PU Department of Political Science, in his paper, said having remained obsessed for several decades with writing nationalist histories of the nation, Indian historiography had in recent years, begun to piece together histories of the people as well. The 1947 Partition was no longer subsumed in the history of the nation as a mere unfortunate episode. It was beginning to attract attention in its own right as the most convulsive and traumatic turning point in the lives of people who were caught unawares in the high politics of nation-making and breaking.

Dr Sanjay Chaturvedi, Convener of the conference, spoke on Mapping the 'Other': Geopolitics of India-Pakistan Borders. Other prominent academicians on the speakers' list today included Dr James Scott of the Institute of Regional Development and Structural Planning in Germany; Dr Pradeep Monga of the United Nations Development Programme in New Delhi; Prof Ladis K.D. Kristof of Portland State University in the USA; Dr Tamar Hermann, Director of the Peace Research Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel; Prof David Newman of Ben Gurion University in Israel; and Dr Olga Brednikiva of the Centre for Independent Social Research in St Petersburg, Russia.

The paper-presentation part of the conference concludes tomorrow. Mr Salman Khurshid, a former Minister of State for External Affairs, will preside over the valedictory function tomorrow afternoon. This will be followed by a post conference two-day field trip.

COURTS

Bail denied in assault case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — A city resident, accused of being involved in the Panjab University assault case in which a the right eye of a student of the Department of Law was damaged with a broken baseball bat, was denied bail by the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.K. Goel.

The accused, Romesh Kumar Arora, was earlier booked by the Chandigarh police for attempt to murder and "voluntarily causing hurt by a dangerous weapon" under Sections 307, 326 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint of Harmeet Singh Tiwana.

According to the prosecution, the complainant was admitted to the hospital after one of the accused inflicted injury on his right eye at about 1.30 a.m. on the New Year's day.

Going into the background of the incident, the prosecution had stated that the complainant was coming out of a university hostel after seeing-off a friend when he was attacked.

The prosecution had added that hot words were exchanged between the two sides after the accused had "tried to hit the complainant's car by his car" near the Administrative Block of the university. The complainants, the prosecution had added, were coming from the DSOI after the New Year's bash when the incident occurred.

Cheating accused denied bail
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — The UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, yesterday rejected the bail applications moved by a sub-divisional officer and an overseer in a cheating case.

The two — SDO O.P. Arora and overseer Shiv Kumar — were earlier booked by the Chandigarh police under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.

Notices on IT to wine contractors quashed
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi and Mr Justice N.K. Sud allowed a bench of writ petitions filed by wine contractors from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh and quashed the notices issued to them by the Excise and Taxation Department, for payment of income tax at 10 per cent on the licence fee, which totals over Rs 1,500 crore in the two states and union territory. The income tax was demanded under Section 206C of the Income Tax Act.

Writ petitions were filed on behalf of the wine contractors holding L-14/L-14A licences, challenging the notices calling upon them to pay income tax on the licence fee. The said notices were issued by the Excise and Taxation Department on the basis of the income tax assessments.

It was contended by counsel for the petitioners that the said demand was totally illegal and without any jurisdiction and against the provisions of the Act. The licence fee could not be treated as a part of the price payable for liquor and by virtue of the payment of licence fee, the wine contractors get the right to sell liquor.

It was further argued that after getting the licence, they had to pay excise duty and on payment, they get the permits which entitled them to get liquor. Thereafter, the wine contractors paid the price of the liquor and obtained their supplies from the wholeseller, holding the L-13 licence or the distilleries.

After hearing Mr Jain’s arguments, the High Court allowed the writ petitions and held that the licence fee could not by any stretch of imagination be treated a part of price of the goods and in addition it did not fall under the definition of seller as envisaged under the Act. The court also held that the income tax authorities had made an error in framing the assessment while including the licence fee in the price payable by the wine contractors for the purchase of goods as the Excise & Taxation Department did not sell any goods but only granted licences.

Judgement reserved on Ravi Inder plea: Mr Justice V.M. Jain reserved judgement on the revision petition of Mr Ravi Inder Singh, a senior member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) challenging the order of the Sub Judge, Chandigarh, and the District Judge dismissing his plea for staying his expulsion from the party. His suit is still pending before the Sub Judge.

The main plea of the petitioner was that the Working Committee's tenure had expired in 1997 and there was no Working Committee in existence and such a committee had no power to expel him. But his plea was rejected by the courts below on the ground that the Election Commission of India had extended the tenure of the Working Committee up to February 28.

Counsel of Mr Ravi Inder Singh argued that the Election Commission had no jurisdiction to extend the term or hold election of the political parties. Therefore, the order was based on wrong assumption.

Counsel for the Shiromani Akali Dal argued that the petitioner had taken contradictory stands. On one hand, he said the Working Committee had ceased to exist but on the other hand he made a statement before the lower court to abide by the orders of the Working Committee. He was now back-tracking from his assurance. He argued that the petitioner had no cause to be apprehensive of his expulsion. No meeting for the purspose had taken place and if any meeting was to be held, a public notice would have to be given.

He argued that two courts had already gone into the matter on merits. The High Court has no jurisdiction to go into the facts, under Section 115, CPC. Injunction being a discretionary matter.

After hearing arguments on both sides the Judge reserved judgement.

CBI given more time to complete probe: On a plea by the CBI for an extension in time for an inquiry against Mr Gurmel Singh, the then SHO of Gidderbaha police station, Muktsar, along with other police officials, Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi court extended the time till April 30 for completing the CBI inquiry.

Mr Gurmit Singh, Special Police Officer at Faridkot police station , and his brother and sister had earlier filed writ petitions in the High Court alleging illegal detention and torture of their family members and relatives by the A.S.I. Gurmel Singh. They also alleged that their goods, jewellery, tractor and other possessions was forcibly taken away from their house to Gidderbaha police station. On their petititions, the court appointed Warrant Officers four times. The household goods of the petitioners were also found lying in the "malkhana" of the police station during the raid.

As a result of preliminary inquiry an F.I.R. was registered against Gurmel Singh.

It was submitted by the CBI counsel that the case being complicated and the inquiry being at the final stage, it required more time to complete the inquiry.

Civil Judge's bail plea dismissed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — Bathinda Civil Judge M.S. Walia's application, seeking interim bail for "remaining" with his wife during her surgery, was today dismissed by the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for Central Bureau of Investigation cases, Mr S.S. Lamba.

Pronouncing the orders in open court, the judge, however, directed: "If the accused so desires, then he would be taken to the hospital on February 24 in judicial custody and superintendent jail would make necessary arrangements in that regard."

Seeking the grant of interim bail, the defence counsel had earlier stated that the applicant's wife was to undergo a major surgery and he should be permitted to remain with her.

Opposing the plea, the CBI counsel had contended that the medical certificate had been procured from a private doctor. The counsel had also asked for directions to the PGI for setting up a board to ascertain whether the operation was required immediately.

Taking up the application, the Special Judge observed: "After considering the rival contentions of the parties and perusing the file, it is revealed that after regular bail was rejected by this court, the bail of the accused was pending decision on December 24, 1999. There being the occasion of marriage in his relation, interim bail was granted to him vide order dated December 24, 1999. However, the High Court has now already dismissed the application for regular bail vide order dated January 17, 2000".

The judge added: "In these circumstances, I am of the view that even for obtaining interim bail, the accused ought to apply before the High Court. The application for interim bail as such fails and is dismissed".

The Civil Judge, it may be recalled, was booked by the Chandigarh Police under the Prevention of Corruption Act on the complaint of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Registrar.

It was alleged that the Civil Judge, after opening a fixed deposit account, had "deposited Rs 50,000 in his own name, Rs 50,000 each in the name of his wife, son and daughters on November 18, 1996".

It was added that the Judge, along with his family "had obtained six bankers cheques on account of encashment on six FDRs of Rs 50,000 each, totalling Rs 3 lakh plus interest".

Haryana official granted bail
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — An official of the Printing and Stationery Department of Haryana, facing allegations of causing a loss of over Rs 7 lakh after allegedly conniving with another accused, was yesterday granted bail by UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate H.S. Madaan.

The accused — Hari Om Bansal — was earlier booked by the Chandigarh police on the complaint of the Assistant controller of the department, Mr Navinder Gupta.

According to the prosecution, the accused, in connivance with others, had typed forged rates and instead of Rs 1,20,000 had cleared a bill of Rs 9,24,700 to a printer.

Today, pronouncing the orders in the open court, the ACJM observed: "Sub-Inspector Krishan Chand has made a statement that challan could not be filed within 90 days of his arrest since the co-accused are yet to be arrested..."

The ACJM also observed: "The public prosecutor with SI Krishan Chand concede that more than 90 days have elapsed from the date of arrest of the accused.... Therefore, he is ordered to be released on bail".

Notice to Admn on stall allotment
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — On a civil suit challenging the allotment of stalls within a radius of 200 m from the two entrances of Rose Garden during the Festival of Gardens, a city court today issued notice to the UT Administration and other defendants for February 24.

The plaintiffs — Lawyers for Social Reforms and Sandeep Kumar — stated that large-scale encroachment and obstructions were a cause of inconvenience and harassment to the visitors.

They also sought directions to the defendants for removing obstructions from the public passage and the entrance by hawkers and vendors.

In the four-page suit against the UT Administration, the Deputy Commissioner, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the Mela Officer, the counsel for the plaintiffs added that the general public too would suffer irreparable loss if the defendants were not restrained from allocating the stalls through the draw of lots.

Claiming the occurrence of a stampede due to obstruction at the garden's entrance during the festival last year, the counsel stated that the plaintiff too was manhandled by some stall owners at the gate.

He added that the defendants advertised for allocation of stalls despite a representation from the plaintiffs, requesting them to ensure the safety and security of visitors by not auctioning the stalls within a radius of 200 m.

The suit will now come up before UT Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mr Jatinder Walia, on February 24.