C H A N D I G A R H

No rolling back of 12 per cent ST on motor vehicles
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The Chandigarh Administration has finally decided to go ahead, with 12 per cent sales tax on motor vehicles after some of the neighbouring states of Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan also issued draft notifications to enhance the tax on motor vehicles to the floor rate of 12 per cent.

Beneficiaries under the pension scheme wait for their turn for re-verification outside the tehsil office (left) while a few senior citizens gather around the solitary tap to quench their thirst while waiting for their turn at the Mini-Secretariat in Sector 1 of Panchkula on Thursday (right). —Tribune photos by Pawan Sharma
For Rs 200, Haryana pensioners go through hell PANCHKULA, May 11 — Tottering old men and women barely manage to drag themselves to the tehsil office in the mini-secretariat, Sector 1, only to cool their heels in the porch for hours on end till they are summoned under the re-verification drive for identification of beneficiaries of the pension scheme.

UT begins 3 shifts in schools
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Chandigarh is all set to have the rare distinction of running three shifts in some of its schools.

Powermen’s strike total
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Powermen of Chandigarh observed a complete and peaceful strike today. The call for the strike was given by the Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Workers.

Cops subletting houses caught
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — A raid by a special team today blew the lid off the illegal practice of subletting government accommodation by policemen in the city.

COMMUNITY

AOC-in-C compliments 3 BRD for target achievement
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The immediate aim for No.3 Base Repair Depot (3 BRD) here should be to obtain the ISO 9000 certificate from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Mohali MC poll on June 17
SAS Nagar, May 11 — Confusion over the holding of the local municipal elections ended today, with the government fixing June 17 as the polling date.

APRO for Mohali sought
SAS NAGAR, May 11 — The Press should go in for constructive criticism of the government and highlight the latter’s development work on a priority basis.

• Dhobis end stir

CRIME

33 drivers challaned
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — In a surprise checking drive, the traffic police today challaned drivers of 33 vehicles for various offences.

‘Cops will weed out dead wood’
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The Police Department will weed out only the dead wood and not a large number of officers as was being projected in a section of the media, which was sending the wrong signal in the rank and file of the Chandigarh police.

BUSINESS

Romancing in moonlit nights
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — A melodious ode to the moon is on its way. And if what the Tourism Promotion Society of Chandigarh says is anything to go by, this city of concrete will have something soulful to look forward to on every weekend.

Bankers flay ‘pressure’ of WB
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Banking services in the city were hit today following the strike by bank employees on the call of the National Platform of Mass Organisations in support of their demands.

Fruits remain dear
PANCHKULA, May 11 — Prices of fruits remained high in the markets of the township. Fluctuation in prices is expected in coming weeks.

Insurance staff strike work
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Insurance services in the city were severely affected today, following a one-day strike by the insurance staff.

PU shops close for an hour
CHANDIGARH, May 11 —Shops at the Student Centre of Panjab University here were closed for over an hour today in protest against the move to enhance the rates of eatables.

Hotel, footpath workers want Rs 3,500
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Hundreds of hotel and footpath workers today observed a strike in support of their demands.

EDUCATION

PU sleeps as fund crises mount
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Despite the state-funding crises, Panjab University continues to ignore ways to improve the existing financial conditions.

Rally by school board staff
SAS NAGAR, May 11 — The Punjab School Education Board Employees Association organised a rally here today in protest against the alleged uncooperative attitude of the management in improving the functioning of the board.

Eyes of 600 students examined
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — As many as 600 students were examined at a free eye camp organised at Ajit Karam Singh International Public School today. School children and staff members were provided with medicines.

COURTS

Jerath’s petition admitted in high court
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Former UT Chief Engineer K.K. Jerath’s petition, challenging Central Administrative Tribunal’s orders rejecting his application against his dismissal from service, was today admitted by a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court here.

Judge inspects district courts
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The annual inspection of the district courts complex by Inspecting Judge, Mr Justice R.S. Mongia of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, began here today. It will continue tomorrow.

CULTURE

Maloya music on Saturday evening
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Granmoun Lele and his band will make the city residents dance to the mixed rhythms of Maloya in Tagore Theatre here on May 13. This evening of Maloya music has been organised by the Alliance Francaise “Le Corbusier” de Chandigarh.

HEALTH

Summer timing of GMCH-32
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, will observe summer timing from May 16 to July 15.

SPORT

Harneet reaches final
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Harneet Singh of Chandigarh beat Ardaman Sidhu, also of Chandigarh, 7-5, 6-4, in the under-14 section of the All-India Ranking Tennis Tournament in New Delhi today and reached the final.

ADMINISTRATION

Drive against exposed food items
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has decided to intensify the drive against vendors and shopkeepers selling exposed food items and drinks.

New environment society head
CHANDIGARH, May 11 — Prof S.C. Jain of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, has been unanimously elected President of the Environment Society of Chandigarh, according to a press release.