 |
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| Wednesday, April 12, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
Temple
overflows with liquor on Ashthami CAT
gets relief for pensioners ‘Nagar
kirtan’ an impressive show IG
rules out revival of militancy |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tohra
flays Bibi’s statement Chawla
questions DEO’s appointment
Badal
lays stone of sewerage project Minister
suspends engineers Vimla
Dang against shifting of mental hospital Free
detainees, if no case Lawyers
demand separate budget 'Punjabi
journalism following western style' Sack
Farooq govt, demands Bitta Govt’s
clarification
Woman
dragged out of house, shot Sunil
Jain’s murder case: brother booked Patwari
held Case
registered against seven 4
booked for theft of wheat crop
NSUI
threatens stir against school fee hike Scrap
admission condition: parents
Bakery
workers’ plea to President ST
renewal fee waived
|
Temple overflows with liquor on
Ashthami PATIALA, April 11 — From the local Santara brand to McDowells and other English brands of liquor, Goddess Kali was offered thousands of bottles by devotees on the occasion of Ashthami at the Kali Devi Temple on Mall Road here today. Besides liquor, devotees also brought chickens and goats. The priests opened each and every bottle and performed bhog by spewing the contents on the tongue of the Goddess, following which these were kept aside as most devotees refused to take the bottles back with them. Even as rooms adjacent to the idols overflowed with liquor bottles, about 100 goats were herded into small open spaces on the temple premises along with coconuts and chickens. Volunteers posted in the temple said besides thousands of bottles, around 250 goats would be accumulated on the temple premises by night. Presenting liquor and goats was a thanksgiving gesture by devotees, said Mr Ashok Kumar, Maha Punjab Sewa Sangh President. He said only Goddess Kali was offered liquor and livestock in the temple, with an adjacent idol of Goddess Bhairavi not being offered these items. Other volunteers said while mostly villagers offered liquor to the Goddess, even urbanites offered liquor and livestock to the Goddess. They said though they persuaded the villagers not to get liquor to the temple, it did not have much effect and most refused to take the liquor back with them after making a symbolic offering. They said other offerings, including chickens, goats and coconuts, were disposed of at a pittance to interested parties. Some volunteers and visitors protested against the futility of the practice, saying it only benefited those doing duty in the temple as no record was kept of the amount of liquor and livestock offered. "Anyone can do what he pleases with what is not put into the golak, said a visitor. Mr Amolak Raj, Temple Supervisor, said the goats were auctioned in the evening to the highest bidder. He added that the liquor was distributed among devotees who cleaned the temple in the night. He claimed that the temple authorities could not stop people from making offerings of liquor and goats to the temple as a court had ruled that they could not interfere in the practices of a cult. For the devotees who
bring these unusual offerings to the temple, this is the
best way to please the Goddess. Mr Suadagar Giri of
Devigarh said he had come to offer thanksgiving following
a wish having been fulfilled at the Goddess' instance. Mr
Rajbir from Samana said he had come here to pray on this
special day to ensure that Goddess Kali guarded him
against all evil. |
CAT gets relief for
pensioners JALANDHAR, April 11 — Thousands of Central Government pensioners continue to suffer financial loss as revision of their pension cases continue to the dealt with indifference by department concerned despite the Union Government orders of October, 1997, calling for expeditious disposal of pension cases and on time payment of arrears of enhanced pension and family pension. Mr Prabhat Kumar, Union Cabinet Secretary, had to issue instructions to all Union Government Secretaries and Heads of Departments in August 1999 to settle pension and pension cases with sensitivity in a time-bound manner. Even this did not help the pensioners whose cases are pending in the various ministries particularly the Controller Central Pension Accounting office (Ministry of Finance) New Delhi, Controller Defence Accounts (Pensions) Allahabad, Divisional Railway Manager, Ferozepur, General Manager Northern Railway, head quarter Baroda House New Delhi. The Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal bench, New Delhi recently issued an order, a copy of which is available with the All-India Central Government Pensioners Association (North India region), said that a pensioner, Mr Girdhari Lal Gandhi (72) who retired as telegraph master from eastern court, New Delhi on May 3,1986, moved court after his repeated requests to officers and rounds of P and T officers concerned at Delhi failed to get the benefit of enhanced pension as per government orders. Despite his failing health Mr Girdhari Lal Gandhi is full of determination. He served a notice under Section 80 of the CPC on November 24, 1998 on all P and T officers concerned at Delhi. Even then it took nine months for the department to settle his pension claims and he was paid his enhanced pension with arrears of Rs 7177 on August 9, 1999. He got justice on January 10, 2000 when Ms Shanta Shastry, member (A) of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi ordered payment of interest at the rate of 12 per cent for the delayed payment of dues to Mr Gandhi. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 1000 on the officers and officials of the P and T Department at Delhi. The court observed in its order that “it is very obvious that the payment of the revised pension is badly delayed in the matter. The applicant is not responsible for the delay. It is between the respondents to settle the matter and the person concerned should be punished or the same. The applicant should not be made to suffer on account of the postal lapses/delays. This is a genuine case where the respondents have failed to perform their duty and have driven the applicant to litigation. I am satisfied that
undue delay has occurred in this case. I, therefore,
order the respondents to pay interest at the rate of 12
per cent on the delayed payment of arrears of the revised
pension with effect from 22.4.1997 till 9.8.1999, and the
respondent no. three ordered to pay Rs 1000 towards the
costs of litigation to the applicant. This may be
compiled with within a two months from the date of
receipt of a copy or this order. |
‘Nagar kirtan’ an
impressive show ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 11 — The three-day programme, being organised by the SGPC in connection with the conclusion of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, began today with a “nagar kirtan” from Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib, Kiratpur Sahib. In the morning, Prof Manjit Singh performed ‘ardas’ heralding the beginning of the celebrations. The impressive and colourful “nagar kirtan” began from Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib at 9.45 p.m. after ‘ardas’ by Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, and culminated at the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib here this afternoon. It was led by the ‘Panj Piaras’. Guru Granth Sahib was kept in a palinquin bedecked with flowers on a decorated vehicle. The ‘nagar kirtan’ was accompanied by, among others, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, acting Jathedar, Sri Akal Takht, Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Sri Damdama Sahib, Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC president, Giani Tarlochan Singh, Head Granthi, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, secretary of the SGPC, Baba Balbir Singh of the Budha Dal and members of the SGPC. During the ‘nagar kirtan’ from Kiratpur Sahib to Anandpur Sahib, ‘gatka’ players including-Nihangs, exhibited their skills. School bands and that of the Punjab Police were impressive. Nihangs could be seen on horseback. The ‘shastras’ (weapons) of Guru Gobind Singh, brought from Sri Anandpur Sahib, were put on display. The sound of ‘nagaras’ attracted the attention of many. A large number of students accompanied the ‘nagar kirtan’ carrying yellow and saffron flags. At least 20 policemen riding horses also took part in the ‘nagar kirtan’. Bibi Harjinder Kaur, president, Sikh Nari Manch, Punjab, participated. The participants used Sumos, cars, buses, trucks and autorickshaws up to the “welcome gate”, 5 km from Anandpur Sahib. They entered the city of bliss on foot. No Punjab minister or top Akali leader participated. Mr G.S. Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, Mr Gurmeet Singh, SP (Operation), Ropar, and Mr Shivdular Singh Dhillon, SDM, Anandpur Sahib, monitored the arrangements. At Kiratpur Sahib,
before the start of the ‘nagar kirtan’,
religious programme was held in Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib
where Prof Manjit Singh presented ‘siropas’ to
Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Giani Kewal Singh, Bibi
Jagir Kaur. |
IG rules out revival of
militancy GURDASPUR, April 11 — Mr Avtar Singh Aulakh, IG BSF, Punjab talking to reporters here today said that there were not even remote chances of revival of terrorism in Punjab in view of lack of public support. Moreover the Pakistan border with Punjab is absolutely sealed. Wherever there is no fencing, special nakas of the BSF are operational there to check trans border activity. So much so riverine area on Indo-Pakistan border from where sneaking from across the border is possible round the clock in boats operate in that area. There are places in the area where live electric wires have been laid. Mr Aulakh said that despite of all this the ISI of Pakistan was making efforts to infiltrate in Punjab. Land of the border in Pakistan opposite this district and opposite Ferozepur sectors has been leased either to ex-Army officials or smugglers. The terrorists who undertake terrorist crime like bomb and rail blasts are specially rewarded. So much so army firings on border in Jammu and Kashmir were undertaken of the cover of firing, he said. Mr Aulakh said that there had been no border crossing from across the border for past more than a year. There is no territory in Punjab from where you can walk over from across the border to enter Punjab. Recently during retreat by the BSF at Wagah border in Amritsar district BSF captured one Muslim terrorist who later was handed over to the Jammu police and was instrumental in helping the Jammu police to capture missiles and other ammunition from the Jammu area. Regarding inflow of fake currency in Punjab from across the border Mr Aulakh said that this had been completely checked now because of 100 per cent checking of passengers entering Punjab through bus and the Samjhauta Express. Earlier the checking of passengers was done on random and there have been cases when fake currency entered Punjab. Meanwhile meeting of
welfare committee which included all ranks from constable
to IG BSF in Punjab which is held twice a year was held
here today. The committee redressed the grievances of all
ranks on the spot. Mr SPS Tanwan DIG Gurdaspur range and
DIG of other ranges and commandants of all battalions
posted in Punjab also attended the meeting. |
Tohra flays Bibi’s statement PATIALA, April 11 — All-India Shiromani Akali Dal President Gurcharan Singh Tohra yesterday look exception to comments made by SGPC President Jagir Kaur on Akal Takht and its jathedar saying they were part of a conspiracy being hatched by the anti-panthic forces through Punjab Chief Minister, Prakash Singh Badal to take the Sikhs away from the highest seat of the Sikh Panth. In a statement here, Mr Tohra said, Bibi Jagir Kaur had called Akal Takht a “building” and its jathedar “merely an employee” of the SGPC. She even went to the extent of declaring SGPC supreme to the Takht and called the jathedar only a “messenger”, he added. Mr Tohra said Jathedar,
Akal Takht after his appointment by the SGPC, was given
approval by the panthic organisations and institutions in
the form of “siropa” and after this approval,
the jathedar could not be removed or dismissed by the
SGPC. The approval of all Sikh institutions had to be
sought if the need to remove the jathedar arose. |
Chawla questions DEO’s
appointment AMRITSAR, April 11 — Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA, today alleged that the appointment of Ms Surinder Kaur Kahlon, wife of Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Minister of Rural Development, as District Education Officer (DEO), Amritsar, was violative of the rules. She alleged that being the wife of a minister, Ms Kahlon had been adjusted by side-tracking rules of seniority. Ms Chawla had questioned the appointments of DEOs in the recent Assembly session. She alleged that out of the 17 appointments, nine were out-of-turn, clearly exposing favouritism and corrupt practices to promote the kin of persons with political clout. The appointment of Mr Lachman Singh Brar as the DEO of Ferozepore was made in the absence of “any seniority number’, she alleged. On the one hand, the government was making efforts to implement the decisions of the Fourth Pay Commission and on the other, all guidelines for appointments, especially in the case of DEOs, were being flouted by ignoring seniority. She demanded that the
government immediately look into the matter and salvage
the situation for the betterment of educational
environment before it was too late. |
Badal lays stone of sewerage
project LUDHIANA, April 11 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has announced that the state government has provided an outlay of Rs 97.76 crore for urban development and urban water supply during the current year. Mr Badal was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of Rs 15.74 crore sewerage project at Moga, 65 km from here, today. He said the various water supply and sewerage projects in urban areas would receive a boost with the provision of the grant-in-aid to the tune of Rs 50 crore. Mr Badal also said supply of potable water and sewerage to everyone in the state was most important for his government. Expressing concern over the growing nuisance of polluted water in village ponds, the Chief Minister said the state government had chalked out an ambitious plan for the disposal of sullage water and a grant-in-aid of Rs 65 crore would be given to panchayati raj institutions for this purpose and also for carrying out other important activities. Besides this, a sum of Rs 32 crore has been earmarked for rural sanitation facilities. He said these efforts would bridge the gap between the rural and urban life and would check the trend of migration of population from rural to urban areas. Strongly pleading for industrialising the agricultural economy of the state, the Chief Minister said agriculture was no more a profitable venture and moreover, it had reached saturation point. He said the setting up of small industrial units was the only answer to the growing unemployment problem. He said the state government had already announced “A” grade incentives for setting up industries in rural sector. He said the government would ensure marketing of the products produced at these industries. The Chief Minister promised all round development of Moga city by strengthening social and industrial infrastructure. Others present on the
occasion were Jathedar Tota Singh, Punjab Education
Minister, Mr Satpal Mahajan, chairman, Punjab Water
Supply and Sewerage Board and Dr Kuldeep Singh Gill,
president of Municipal Committee, Moga. |
Minister suspends engineers HOSHIARPUR, April 11 — Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Minister for PWD (B&R), Punjab, has ordered the suspension of Executive Engineer S.B.S. Batra and Subdivisional Engineer Sukhbir Singh of Central Works Division here. This was disclosed by Mr Mohinder Singh, Secretary, PWD (B&R), Punjab, at a press conference at PWD Rest House here last night. He said that after convening a meeting of PWD officers to review the progress of construction works being carried out in the district, Mr Langah, along with other ministers related to the district, Mr Sarup Singh and Mr Sarabjit Singh, both Chief Engineers of the Department, Superintending Engineer S.C. Kalra, Deputy Commissioner Iqbal Singh Sidhu and SSP R.P. Mittal, inspected the work of a bridge at Pool Pukhta on Tanda-Shri Hargobindpur last evening. The minister found that the work being carried out was not according to the specifications of the department due to which he ordered to the suspension of both the aforesaid engineers. Mr Mohinder Singh
further said that order had also been issued to black
list the contractor who was doing the construction work
at the site. He said an inquiry has been ordered into the
construction work, which would be carried out by a
Superintending Engineer of the Department. |
Vimla Dang against shifting of
mental hospital AMRITSAR, April 11 — Mrs Vimla Dang, former MLA has questioned the Punjab Government’s proposal regarding reports that the Dr Vidya Sagar Punjab Mental Hospital is to be shifted either to a village in Amritsar district or to the building of the old jail of Ludhiana. In a press note here yesterday she admitted that the hospital was in a mess and there was shortage of qualified staff and funds. But shifting was no solution, she said. The purported reason for the government decision, she said, was that the present land could be sold to generate funds to help to shift the hospital as well as finances to provide better amenities. She said the government’s proposal amounted to saying that the government was not prepared to provide adequate finances for the hospitals smooth and proper functioning. “In that case”, she added, “surplus land of the hospital could be sold to generate funds”. But to support a jumbo sized ministry and impose unreasonable taxes and then to talk about fund crisis seems unreasonable on the part of the government, she added. She suggested that the
government took the final decision only after a meeting
of representatives of various parties and the NGOs where
solutions to the problem could be found. |
Free detainees, if no case CHANDIGARH, April 11 — Issuing notice to Amritsar’s Senior Superintendent of Police and two other respondents, Mr. Justice N.C. Khichi of the High Court today also asked them to set the alleged detainees at liberty if no case was registered against them”. Taking up the petition filed by two Amritsar residents, Ms. Meeta and Ms Shakuntala, alleging that their sons were picked up by a police party, Mr Justice Khichi also directed “that the detainees, Rinku and Ajay Kumar, be produced in this court on April 20”. The Judge also issued notice to the Punjab Advocate General for the same date. Pronouncing the orders, Mr Justice Khichi observed that according to the petitioners, Rinku and Ajay Kumar are illegally detained by respondent number 3 and 4 SHO of Civil Lines police station at Amritsar and officer in charge of Majitha Road police post without registration of any case against them. They further prayed that the respondents be directed to produce the detainees in court. The petitioners, had earlier alleged that the two youngsters were being kept in illegal custody after being picked up by a police party on the night of March 21 and 22. Warrants against sarpanch The High Court has issued bailable warrants against Shankar Dass, sarpanch of Khurali village in Hoshiarpur district after he was “absent despite service” in a contempt petition. Pronouncing the orders in open court, Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal observed: “Respondent No 1 (Shankar Dass) is ascent despite service. His bailable warrants to a sum of Rs 5,000 with a surety of a like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting officer be issued”. In a petition against the sarpanch and another respondent under the Contempt of Court Act, Mr Chuhar Singh had alleged that the respondents had “deliberately, wilfully and intentionally flouted the High Court orders of status quo by blocking the natural flow of water”. He had also alleged that
some persons, including the sarpanch, were trying to
alter the direction of the natural flow by changing the
nature of the passage slope. |
Lawyers demand separate budget JALANDHAR, April 11 — The Punjab Lawyers Association has demanded separate budget for judiciary. Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Mr Harish Dhanda, the president of the association, said provision of separate budget for judiciary was necessary for improving its efficiency . He said the allocation of the budget should be with the state High Court. The money out of the budget should be used for the construction of new judicial complexes and for the development of judicial system. Mr G.K. Agnihotri, the convenor of the association said lawyers of subordinate courts were being subjected to discrimination as there was six day week in subordinate courts and lawyers had to work on Saturdays also. He said the report of the judicial commission should be implemented wherein it had been recommended that there should be 36 working hours a week in these courts. The association also
demanded that to shorten the delay in disposal of cases,
the vacancies should be filled immediately and the
transfers of judges should be effected in April only. The
association further expressed anguish over absence of
lawyers chambers in the upcoming judicial complexes in
the state. |
'Punjabi journalism following
western style' PATIALA, April 11 — The Punjab Social Security Minister, Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla, has called for improving the standard of Punjabi journalism. He has also said that awards should be instituted for this purpose at the district level. He was participating in a seminar organised by the Punjab Journalists Friends Club here yesterday in which a noted non-resident Punjabi journalist, Narpal Singh Shergill, was honoured. Mr Kanjla said Punjabi newspapers could themselves contribute immensely towards the preservation and propagation of Punjabi journalism. He said Punjabi journalism had a bright future as long as Punjabi was spoken by the future generations of the state. He said it was the responsibility of Punjabi journalists to propagate the cause of the language in a selfless way. Narpal Singh Shergill was presented a memento and shawl by Mr Kanjala and the club President, Mr Balbir Singh Bedi. Speaking on the occasion, the Punjabi University Department of Journalism professor, Dr Narinder Singh Kapoor, said Punjabi journalism had failed to maintain its identity because like other languages, it was also following the western style of journalism. He said the language could not grow until it became a language of mass business transaction. Mr Harinder Singh Walia, also of Punjabi University, said Punjabi journalism was safe as long as people spoke the language. The Punjabi Tribune
Deputy Editor, Mr Shingara Singh Bhullar, said
information technology had brought many changes in
Punjabi journalism and it had to change to cater to the
ever-growing needs of readers. Noted theatre personality
Harpal Tiwana and Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, PCS, also spoke
on the occasion. |
Sack Farooq govt, demands
Bitta GARHSHANKAR, April 11 — Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, chairman of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front and former chief of the Indian Youth Congress, today urged the Centre to dismiss the Farooq Abdullah government so that massacres like Chitti Singhpora were not repeated. He said this while addressing a press conference here. Mr Bitta said Pakistan
was destabilising Indian economy by smuggling fake
currency. He also demanded that the Samjhauta Express
should be discontinued. |
Govt’s clarification CHANDIGARH, April 11 — The Punjab Government has clarified that in a meeting with the representatives of trade and industry on April 10, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal did not think it appropriate to dispense with the provision of submission of purchase lists along with the sales tax returns by dealers because of the fact that purchase returns were very essential to cross check the sales made by one dealer and the purchase made by the others. The revised sales tax
rates on rectified spirit, thread i.e. yarn of all types
and molasses will be effective from April 12. |
Woman dragged out of house, shot JALANDHAR, April 11 — A young housewife was dragged out of her house and shot dead by two unidentified drunkard youths, who suspected she was concealing details of money and other household items demanded by them; at Ragra village near Nakodar last night. The two clean shaven youth in their early twenties, who were sporting caps fled the scene as none from the neighbourhood came to the rescue of the women and her husband, who were alone in the house at the time of the incident. A land dispute was being suspected by the police to be a cause of the murder. According to a complaint by Sukhdev Singh, husband of the deceased, the youths entered the house at around 7.30 p.m. and asked for money and other valuables in the house. The police said though the exact cause of the murder could not be ascertained, a land dispute between Sukhdev Singh and one of his cousins could not be ruled out to be one of the reasons behind the incident. In his complaint Sukhdev Singh also pointed the needle of suspicion towards his maternal uncle Avtar Singh and his wife Charan Kaur, residents of the same village. Avtar Singh’s son had been living with Sukhdev and Manjit Kaur since his childhood and had been demanding “his share of land” from the childless couple. The issue, which was brewing up for quite some time, had become a matter of discord between the two families, the police said. No arrest has been made
so far. A case under Sections 302, 452, 342 and 341 of
the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act has been
registered against Avtar Singh at the Nakodar police
station. |
Sunil Jain’s murder case:
brother booked LUDHIANA, April 11 — The sensational case of the mysterious death of industrialist Sunil Jain took a new turn with the police booking the brother of the deceased, Anil Jain, alias Mickey, for the murder. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered against Mickey on a complaint of Mrs Reema Jain, wife of the deceased. It is learnt that Mickey has been booked after the post-mortem examination stated asphyxia as the cause of the death. Seven injury marks, allegedly caused during a struggle, were also found on the body of the deceased. It may be recalled that
the body of Sunil Jain was found under mysterious
circumstances in his car at the Focal Point area on
December 23, 1999. The police had all along been
suspecting Mickey for the death of Sunil Jain. Mickey was
later booked in a case under the NDPS Act and has been
languishing in a jail. |
Patwari held JALANDHAR, April 11 — The local Vigilance Bureau has arrested a patwari of Partapura village in Phillaur on a charge of accepting Rs 4,000 as bribe from a resident of Darapur village. In a press note issued
today, Ms Gurpreet Deo, SP, Vigilance Bureau, said
Dilbagh Singh had been demanding money from Gurnam Singh
for doing mutation of his mother’s land in favour of
him and his brothers. The accused had already entered the
mutation in favour of Gurnam Singh. However, it was yet
to be verified by the kanungo and the tehsildar. |
Case registered against seven MOGA, April 11 — The police has registered a case under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 427 and 120B, IPC against seven persons including a sympathiser of the ruling party, for their alleged attempts to illegally grab shops of Satish Sood of here with the help of certain anti-social elements. According to the police, Sub-Registrar Karnail Singh, who was posted here at that time, had allegedly completed all documents for the accused concerning the property without any clarification on the ownership of the property which belong to Mr Sood since 1945. The names of the persons
against whom these case have been registered include
Charanjit Kaur (Australia), Sapinder Kaur (Kulalumpur),
Naib Singh Gill, his mother Gurdev Kaur, Bhajan Singh and
Harbhajan Singh and an Akali leader. |
4 booked for theft of
wheat crop LUDHIANA, April 11 — In an interesting case, the police has booked four persons in a case pertaining to the theft of standing wheat crop at Pirthipur village in the Sahnewal police station. According to the information available, a case under Sections 447, 427, 34 and 380 of the IPC has been registered against Rajinder Singh, Mahan Singh, Amarjit Singh and Buland Singh on the complaint of Amarjit Singh. Amarjit Singh has
alleged that the four accused along with 10 to 12 unknown
persons have committed theft of his crop standing in the
fields. |
NSUI threatens stir against school
fee hike AMRITSAR, April 11 — The NSUI has threatened a fast and a strike in all educational institutions if the state government fails to withdraw the fee hike in educational institutions affiliated to the Punjab State Education Board. Mr Sachin Mehra, acting president of the union, said yesterday that the board had increased the tuition fee by three times and the admission fee by 28 times. The fee has been hiked in the middle schools from Rs 30 to Rs 90, in the high schools from Rs 40 to Rs 115 and in the higher secondary school from Rs 50 to Rs 135. Besides the admission fee, other charges are being realised in the name of library fee, science fee, computers, vocational fee, physical activity, health fees and for electricity and water. Even for scooter and cycle parking, the students would have to dole out from Rs 40 to Rs 570 per year in the primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools. Mr Mehra severely
criticised the hike in fees in technical institutes from
Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000. |
Scrap admission condition:
parents ROPAR, April 11 — Parents whose wards want admission in Bachelor of Engineering Technology, Punjab Technical University, have demanded that the condition of having passed the 10 plus 1 examination from Punjab be done away with to enable students from outside to avail of the facility of 85 per cent reservation in the CET. In a representation to
the university authorities, they have stated that the
career of their wards have been put in a jeopardy with
the introduction of the clause. |
Bakery workers’ plea to
President CHANDIGARH, April 11 — The All-India Modern Bakeries Workers Federation has sought the intervention of the President, Mr K. R. Narayanan, for protecting the employment of its members which they fear is in jeopardy following the sale of economically viable Modern Food Industries to a private industrial house. Mr A.D. Nagpal, General
Secretary of the federation, said here today that the
employment of 2000 workers of Modern Food Industries was
under threat. He said 74 per cent of the share of Modern
Food Industries,with assets worth Rs 2100 crore had been
sold for Rs 105 crore. The sale has been executed without
inviting tenders and the government authorities preferred
to negotiate with only three hand-picked private
companies. |
ST renewal fee waived LUDHIANA, April 11 — A deputation of the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) met the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal at Chandigarh yesterday. CICU president, Mr Pardhan said here that at the meeting the Chief Minister waived the renewal fee on sales tax licences of Rs 2000 and reduced licence fee from Rs 5000 to Rs 3000. Mr S.L. Kalra, office secretary of CICU said that a meeting with the Sales Tax Minister, Mr Aadesh Pratap Singh will be held on April 18 at Circuit House, Ludhiana to review the demand for withdrawal registration fee. A five-member committee
has been formed for the purpose and to discuss the issue
of abolition of sales tax levied on halwais and bakery
goods. |
 |
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