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| Monday, June 12, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
PUDA exemption for armed forces Government litigation unlimited Punjab to ‘oppose’ WTO implementation Bibi welcomes CBI probe CM not asked to pay tributes to uncle
Rs 1,700 cr outlay for
Punjab roads, bridges |
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Canalise Chhoti Nadi of sorrow: residents Violence disrupts ‘Gaddar’ shooting Resentment among DRDA staff Farmers being
harassed: BKU BKU (Ekta) to end stir Marriage pandals in parks Brick-kiln owners’
threat to stop work Job project to be opened on June 14
Plea to hand over case to CBI
Pension scheme hangs in balance Jobless teachers threaten stir
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PUDA
exemption for armed forces CHANDIGARH, June 11 -- The Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) has decided to grant exemption to armed forces personnel posted in field areas from paying extension fee on non-construction of houses. A notification issued to the Additional Chief Administrators at Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bathinda and
Patiala, PUDA authorities state: ''It has been decided by the finance committee that serving soldiers and officers of the armed forces will be given additional time for the completion of construction equal to the total period spent by them in postings at non-family stations.'' As per the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Rules (General), there is no provision for giving any concession to any class or category from paying the non-construction fee. This amendment follows a case being taken by affected personnel that they were unable to construct houses within the stipulated period of purchasing the plot as they were posted away in field areas and it was difficult to oversee the construction work and complete the requisite formalities. The extension fee for non-construction charged by PUDA is 2.5 per cent of the market rate per square yard. At the average prevailing prices in Mohali, the fee comes to roughly Rs 90 per square yard. While this notification will benefit service personnel, there is the issue of those who have already paid non-construction fee prior to the issuance of the notification. The Director Sainik Welfare Punjab, Brig K S Kahlon, said that a separate case in this regard was being taken up with the State government. Meanwhile, PUDA has also revised the policy on reservation of plots or houses for gallantry award winners, with the quota being increased and gallantry awards won in peace time also being considered. The earlier quota of 1 per cent has been increased to 2 per cent. Gallantry awards won during peace time, that is in counter insurgency duties or other military operations will also be eligible to avail the benefit of the reservation. The order of precedence to be adopted for gallantry awards is Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Ashoka Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), Kitri Chakra, Vir Chakra (VrC) and Shaurya Chakra. The PVC, MVC and VrC are war time gallantry awards, while the other three are peace time gallantry awards. As per the policy, extension of reservation to the dependent parents or widows will be done only in those cases where the award is posthumous. Next of kin will be construed as the widow or if the awardee is unmarried, the mother or father, in this order. |
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Government litigation unlimited CHANDIGARH , June 11 - The process of assessing the performance ice of the Punjab Advocate - General has started. The Minister of Legislative Affairs and Justice, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg , is reported to have had a preliminary round of discussions with the Advocate - General, Mr Hardev Singh Mattewal, last week. He wanted to have a fair idea of the performance of the 48-member team handling litigation related to
the government . The Council of Ministers at its meeting on Wednesday had constituted a sub-committee to go over the performance of advocates in the A-G`s office and assess their success rate in handling the cases. The Cabinet sub - committee is to submit its report within 30 days. The question is how will assessment be done with a long list of pending cases ? Informed sources say that the pendenacy is as high as nearly one lakh cases in the Supreme Court, High Court and in Tribunals. The exact number of cases in lower courts is not available. How will the committee compile the relevant data ? Even if it does, will there be a political will to axe the advocates whose performance is not up to the mark?
Their`s is a contract job. This question assumes importance given the reported "links" and "connections" some of them have in the political executive, bureaucracy and in the judiciary. The task of the committee will also be difficult, say sources, because it shall have to rely
solely on the "objective" assessment and evaluation which only the Advocate-General himself can make . In the present set-up there is: one senior
Advocate-General, five additional and three senior deputy A-Gs, 39 deputy and assistant advocates-general. The present incumbent, it is learnt, has "inherited" the team except some new faces. Though a Cabinet sub-committee was formed earlier also when Mr G.S. Grewal was the Advocate-General, the did not do much. The Minister, Mr Garg, is also learnt to have asked the Chief secretary, who is coordinator, to get relevant information. Insiders say that the need for the present urgency arose following an informal discussion in the Council of Ministers where certain apprehensions and reservations were expressed over the way the government lost some of the cases, affecting its image. No one, perhaps, paid attention to some of the key cases successfully won by the A-G`s office ,said sources. Punjab was saved from
paying a cess of Rs 800 crore levied by the Himachal Pradesh Government on hydro-power stations pollution category. Likewise, the State won in the Supreme Court the case pertaining to payment of dearness allowance. The case of Lal Bagh land in Patiala is a recent example what if due to administrative snag some were lost like that of PWD engineers, Panchayati Raj amendments on direct, indirect election . Sources told TNS that the A-G office is tired of writing to administrative secretaries to pay attention to cases pending in the courts and submit well documented, researched replies in time, besides constantly reviewing the on-going cases and occasionally briefing the advocates in the A-G office. Not much heed was paid to the repeated reminders on this issue. The result being poorly drafted, half-baked replies often put the government in a quandary. One wonders why the executive cannot improve its housekeeping while dealing with service matters ? Were the administrative secretaries to be made accountable and subordinates equally held responsible and action initiated in case of adverse judgements there would certainly be an appreciable drop in the litigation cases, improvement in administrative functioning and even mitigate undue suffering besides cutting on the expenditure of the exchequer. The maximum number of cases pertain to departments of Education, Local Self-Government, Rural Development and Irrigation. The irony is that when one case is decided in a specific manner the department concerned seldom ensures its implementation and application to similar other cases which consequently sets in a chain reaction of more litigation. The relationship between the executive and the office of the Advocate- General and government is one of "confidentiality" and A-G enjoys "Constitutional"' authority. Given prevailing situation it portends brewing of a "confrontation". The truth is A-G office is opposed to any assessment of its performance merely because in few cases government lost face in the court. But the fact is that such cases were not judicially handled by the executive, which shows administrative lackadaisical attitude and lethargy. "Is there one example where any Cabinet or Minister of State has ever sat down with his administrative secretary or head of department to review the litigation cases and find an administrative solution or discuss the same with the A-G`s office " ? asked a source In this backdrop one wonders if the Cabinet sub-committee can do much. The real success will follow only when there is complete understanding, appreciation and net-working between all. Of late the A-G`s office is functioning from its own building. A process of computerisation with on-line system is being installed for transparency, effectiveness and speedy processing of cases. The A-G`s office has its own host of problems and requirements. Mere fault-finding and knit-picking alone will not solve any problems. The allegation that well "connected" and even "briefless" lawyers get contractual job is another aspect which the Cabinet sub-committee is to look
into. But modalities are being worked out , said a source in the committee. The Advocate-General, Mr Mattewal, when contacted refused to comment on the constitution of the Cabinet sub-committee . He, however, did say that the Minister, Mr Garg, one of the members of the committee ,did visit the A-G office three or four days ago. |
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Punjab to ‘oppose’ WTO implementation FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 11 — The Punjab Government will oppose the implementation of WTO, till the Central Government assures the state that the purchase rates would be decided according to international level and will also provide goods needed for agriculture sector like fertilizer, diesel and
machinery, on International purchase rate, which are higher at present, said, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Minister for Finance, while talking to mediapersons here today. He had come to preside over the function arranged by the District Akali Jatha to honour those workers and leaders, who had joined SAD (B). While advocating the subsidies and free electricity to the farmers, he said the economic condition of farmers of the state was
deteriorating due to the adverse balance of trade. He said the state farmers had to pay Rs 1500 crore annually because all agriculture goods come from outside the state. In USA agriculture sector was highly subsidies, where 37 per cent subsidy was given to farmer, where as in India farmers are given indirect subsidised. He urged that to balance the adverse trade the prices of agriculture produce should be linked with General Price Index. He also demanded that Central Government should impose 60 per cent import duty on WTO items in order to save the domestic industry and farming sectors. He made it clear that the state government is not only benefiting the farming sector, but also the industry. He said that the government had decided to exempt oil refinery to be set up at Bathinda from sale tax and electricity duty for at least 15 years. Later addressing Akali workers, who joined SAD (B), under leadership of Avtar Singh Bhalmajra, District General Secretary of the SHSAD urged workers to work unitedly for strengthening the party as well as the government. A list of 93 workers and office-bearers of the SHSAD was distributing among mediapersons, who deserted the SHSAD and joined the SAD (B). Mr Randhir Singh Cheema, former Minister, Jathedar Swarn Singh Chanarthal, District President, Devinder Singh Bhappu, general secretary, and Avtar Singh Bhalmajra also addressed the gathering. |
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Tohra assails
Badal BATHINDA, June 11 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president of the SHSAD, today said that the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was “misinforming” the people on GATT agreement. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Tohra said that about 1400 items which would be imported under the agreement would have negative impact on agriculture and industry in Punjab. He pointed out that these items would be imported free from any duty and tax. He added if the corrective measures in this regard were not taken by the authorities concerned, India might lose economic sovereignty. Mr Tohra pointed out that he did not recognise Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti as the real Jathedar of Akal Takht. He added if the Sikh community appointed anybody Jathedar of Akal Takht, he would not oppose it. Mr Tohra said Mr Badal and some members of the SGPC should seek apology by presenting themselves before Akal Takht. |
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Bibi welcomes CBI probe PHAGWARA, June 11 — Shedding her posture of shunning the press in the wake of her daughter, Harpreet Kaur’s mysterious death, Bibi Jagir Kaur, president of the SGPC, today welcomed the high court decision to entrust the probe into the death to the CBI. She told newsmen here that she would fully cooperate with the CBI. On June 9, Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered a CBI probe into Harpreet’s death following a petition by Kamaljit Singh, who claimed to be her husband and father of her aborted child. On SGPC member Puran Singh Josh’s demand for her ouster from the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur said the Panth would give a befitting answer to all her detractors. She
declared that the SGPC would raise hockey teams of men and women. Seven new colleges would be set up in Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir and Amritsar. |
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CM not asked to pay tributes to uncle BADAL (Muktsar), June 11 —The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was not invited on the dais to pay tributes to Teja Singh Dhillon, his real uncle and ‘political guru’, at the latter’s bhog ceremony held here today. The organisers even did not ask Mr Badal to perform the thanksgiving ceremony. In addition, the Union Sports Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and the Punjab Science and Technology Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, left the venue when the state secretary, Mr Gurmeet Singh Khudian, son of Late Akali leader Jagdev Singh Khudian, sought an apology from them for not sparing time for them to speak on the occasion. Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, senior SAD leader, who was given only two minutes’ to pay tributes to the departed soul after presenting the ceremonial ‘turban’ to Mr Maheshinder Singh, son of Teja Singh Dhillon, ended his speech in a few seconds. He also objected to being given less time to speak by the stage secretary. More than 15,000 persons from all walks of life, including politicians, attended the bhog ceremony. Teja Singh Dhillon commanded huge respect from every section of society for his generosity. A number of speakers made an indirect attack on Mr Badal, who remained at the bhog ceremony function till the end, over the issue of Akal Takht. Mr Narinder Singh Bhaler, a close associate of Teja Singh Dhillon, said that the departed leader and five other persons, including himself, had initiated Mr Badal into politics. He said that Mr Badal should make arrangements for erecting a memorial of Teja Singh. A few months ago, Tej Singh and Mr Badal fell apart and the former openly announced his support for Mr Jagmeet Brar in the previous parliamentary elections in which Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, son of the Chief Minister, was defeated. Teja Singh was also instrumental in organising a big rally of Akali dissidents in this village early this year which was presided over by a former Speaker, Mr Ravi Inder Singh. Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, SHSAD, said that the demise of Teja Singh Dhillon was not a personal loss to any one but it was a ‘Panthic loss’. Quoting from the Guru Granth Sahib, Mr Tohra said that Teja Singh always fought for maintaining the ‘maryada’ of Akal Takht. Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, MP, said that Teja Singh Dhillon made the political career of a number of persons and always stood by the principles of Akal Takht. He made sincere and tireless efforts for propagation of Sikhism. Mr Maheshinder Singh Dhillon, the son of the departed soul, should come into politics for carrying out necessary reforms in it, he added. Mr G.S. Galib, MP, MR Brij Bhupinder Singh, former Congress minister, Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, MLA, Mr Harcharan Singh Rode, senior Akali leader, Mr Joginder Singh, son of late president, Giani Zail Singh, Mr Roop Lal Sathi and Vijay Sathi were present. |
Rs 1,700 cr outlay for
Punjab roads, bridges DERA BASSI, June 11 — More than Rs 1,700 crore have been earmarked for the four-laning of highways, laying new bridges and on the repair of the village link roads in Punjab. Besides this, Rs 365 crore will be spent on the repair of 34,000 km link roads and for laying an additional 2000 km of link roads. This was disclosed by Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister of Punjab, while addressing a public meeting in Nagla village after inaugurating a 74.25-meter-long bridge which has come up over the seasonal Sukhna rivulet, here today. The bridge costing Rs 1.50 crore will benefit more than 30,000 people residing in the 15 surrounding villages. The bridge will cut down travel distance by about 12 km to go to Dera Bassi. Earlier, the residents of this area had to travel 12 km additional distance to go to Dera Bassi during rains. Due to poor bus service the residents were facing a number of problems. Earlier, the minister also laid the foundation stone of Gazipur-Bazigar village link road which is expected to come up at a cost of Rs 22 lakh by July end. A bridge which will come up over Nandiali cho at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore. Two bridges costing Rs 5.70 crore near Jawaharpur and Tangri rivulets will be completed soon, said the minister. Beside this repair work of all the link roads in the Banur constituency is going on a war-footing. Mr S.K. Singh, Area Manager, IFCO, disclosed that 34,421 cooperative societies of 18 states and three Union Territories are the members of IFCO which shows that more than 3 crore farmers are its shareholders in a direct or indirect way. Mr Angrej Singh, Assistant Area, IFCO, Mr Harbans Singh Saini, from Agriculture University Ludhiana and Mr Kewal Garg, President of Dera Bassi Industrial Association, also spoke on the occasion.
Canalise Chhoti Nadi of sorrow: residents PATIALA, June 11—A Defence bundh once, the Chhoti Nadi here has now become a sewage disposal drain and a dumping ground whose silt level has risen to such an extent that it overflows during the monsoons bringing miseries to the people living in the colonies adjoining it. Residents of these colonies dread the monsoon season. A heavy downpour results in the nadi overflowing at some points and slush water entering streets and even some houses. People have been suffering this as well as the stench and disease caused by the nadi for years with nothing done so far to mitigate their lot. The nadi has not been dug and cleaned properly for 20 to 30 years, say residents of Tafazalpura and Gurbaksh Colony. ''Every now and then they do cosmetic cleaning which consists of lifting dumped material, including polythene bags, from the bed of the river '', said Mr Karanjit Singh of Tafazalpura . Due to this the silt level in the river has increased every year. Sewage and other disposal of various colonies from Grid Colony to the Rajpura Colony goes into the river. Former Councillor Gurcharan Singh Bathla informed that as many as five estimates had been made to clean up the nadi but none could see the light of day. He said for years there was the problem of who would do the work as no department owned the nadi. He said it had finally been decided last year that the local Municipal Corporation would look after its maintenance. Mr Bathla said the authorities had also been pursued this year also to get the nadi cleaned due to the danger it posed to the population living alongside it. It had not be cleaned till now and the monsoon season was nearing day by day, he said. He stated there was urgent need to dig up and lift the silt from the nadi's bed. Inquiries revealed that the administration had entrusted the job of digging up and cleaning up of the nadi to a drag line. However, corporation Commissioner K. S. Kang stated that it was only recently reported that a drag line could not function in the bed of the river as electric wires passed overhead. He said it had been now decided to get the river bed cleaned manually. He said the corporation was also studying a proposal recommending lining of the nadi from Tafazalpura to Rajpura Colony at a cost of Rs 2 crore Residents of the area want that as the nadi was no longer living up to its purpose it should be lined and converted into a big drain. According to Dr S.M.Verma of Punjabi University the Chhoti Nadi was actually a cut-piece bundh which had come up in 1874 as the second line of the defence of the city, with the Badi Nadi or the Patiala ki Rao, a distributary of the Ghaggar, being the first defence bundh. Residents said as the nadi did not serve any flood protection purpose and only served as a sewage drain it should be canalised. They demanded that its width should be fixed. At the moment it is very irregular with encroachments also coming up alongside it. While its is very narrow near Tafazalpura, it is nearly 50 to 60 feet wide near Rajpura Colony. Mr Bathla said that a 20-foot drain could be built on the site and the rest of the area could form a green belt which could have a community centre or park which would serve the residents of the area.  |
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Violence disrupts ‘Gaddar’ shooting AMRITSAR, June 11 — Many onlookers, including a driver and a co-driver of a Delux train sustained injuries due to stone pelting and police lathicharge before the shooting of much-publicised film “Gaddar” here last evening. The shooting of the film had to be postponed much to the disappointment of the film makers. The police had to resort to lathicharge as an unruly crowd had gathered to see the film shooting due to “over-publicity” done by a local TV channel. The public too faced the wrath of the police. The administration, including the Railway and the police failed to make proper arrangements for the shooting of the film. The film makers had to spend huge amounts to convert the Amritsar Railway Station into “Lahore Railways Station”. The film is about the partition days which claimed thousands of lives. Among those injured in the lathicharge include Mr Kamal Kohli, a local journalist, Mr Joginder Parshad and Mr Darshan Kumar, Driver and co-driver, respectively of a Delux train, which reached here around midnight. After the lathicharge the agitated public started pelting stones on the train. The passengers accused the railway authorities and district administration for allowing a large number of people inside the railway station at the time of shooting. The actors, including Sunny Deol, Amrish Puri, however, failed to turn up for shooting. |
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Resentment among DRDA staff SANGRUR, June 11 — Resentment prevails among hundreds of employees of the district rural development agencies (DRDA) in the state against the different attitude of the state government towards their demands. Talking to this reporter here today, Mr Mohan Lal Singla, state organising secretary of the Punjab State DRDA Staff Welfare Association, claimed that the association had information that due to the apathetic approach and the adamant attitude of the authorities of the government/towards the demands of the employees, some of them were on the verge of committing suicide. Their main demand was that they should be adjusted as state government employees in the Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Department. Mr Singla said the union government had asked the Punjab Government twice to adjust the DRDAs employees is state government employees, but the action had been taken in this regard. The DRDAs employees had also been demanding the implementation of the service rules which were formed for the employees and approved by the Punjab Governor in 1989. He alleged that the rules were changed and distorted by the office of the Joint Development Commissioner, Punjab. Mr Singla said the association had demanded an inquiry in this regard. The association had also been demanding a regular scale for crafts teachers, working with the DRDAs. The other demand of the association was that the services of gram sevikas, working with the DRDAs should be regularised. |
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Farmers being
harassed: BKU FEROZEPORE, June 11 — The state unit of the BKU has alleged that farmers are being harassed by officials of the PSEB on one pretext or the other. Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, Prof Manjit Singh Qadian and Mr Bhupinder Singh Maheshari, president, secretary-general and general secretary, respectively, of the union said in a statement here today that the harassment of farmers would not be tolerated. They warned that the farmers would gherao PSEB officials if their harassment was not stopped. The BKU leaders said there was an acute shortage of canal water for the irrigation purpose in the border areas as certain influential farmers were indulging in its theft. As a result, the canal water did not reach tail-end villages, they alleged and added that the underground water had gone too deep. They urged the Punjab Government to make adequate arrangements for canal water for irrigation purpose at tail-end villages in the border areas across the district. If the state government failed to take any step, the union would be constrained ot launch an agitation with the help of the farmers concerned, they warned. |
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BKU (Ekta) to end stir BATHINDA, June 11 — The district administration and the police authorities have succeeded in persuading BKU (Ekta) activists for reaching a compromise and to withdraw all types of agitation launched by them following the killing of two Dalit youths of Jethuke village in the police firing on January 31. Official sources said that BKU (Ekta) activists decided to withdraw its agitation when the district administration promised that one member of those families, whose near and dear ones had been killed in police firing would be given government jobs. Mr Jhanda Singh, Mr Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan and Mr Shingara Singh, three leaders of the BKU (Ekta), today said that compromise reached late last evening when the district administration also gave monetary compensation to those families whose earning hands were killed in police firing. They alleged that a minister was trying to instigate one of the parties. They added that due to the conspiracy the compromise could not be reached earlier. Official sources said the compromise was reached between the district administration and BKU (Ekta) activists late last evening after a marathon meeting in which functionaries of other parties also participated. After the killing of two youths, Punjab Government had also announced compensation of Rs 50,000 to the families of the deceased. The police was also finding it difficult to justify the killings as it did not have order from the Magistrate. In an unsigned press note faxed to the TSO from Deputy Commissioner’s office last evening, it was mentioned that all aspects of Jethuke firing were discussed and solution of all the outstanding issues was evolved. |
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Marriage pandals in parks HOSHIARPUR: The local Municipal Council has neglected parks here. Hedges and grass have been damaged. The council is now providing these parks to people for marriages and other functions for Rs 1000. The council has constructed a shopping complex in a park on the Una road. Green View Park having lit fountains, on the Court road in front of the State Bank of India, main branch, here has become a` marriage palace`. Shaheed Udham Singh Park in the Model Town area, has become a meeting point of
agitators. No Safai Karamchari cleans the parks. There are 32 parks in the city. The parks at Lachhman Dass Municipal Library at the Railway road near Clock Tower and Gandhi Reading Room Bahadurpur look desolate. Lit fountains near old Subzi Mandi, Laxmi Theatre
Chowk, the Tanda bypass crossing and Parbhat Chowk used to be a solace to people in summer nights. The lighting system in these parks has gone out of order since long. Shimla Pahari Park once a rendezvous and strollers and joggers delight, remains neglected. The council has 12 gardeners against the required strength of 40. The post of horticulture inspector has been abolished since long. Almost all the gardeners are generally deputed to residences of high officials and politicians of the ruling party. Three parks have come up around religious places in the model town area in violation to municipal laws. |
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Brick-kiln owners’
threat to stop work ROPAR, June 11 — Brick-kilns in Punjab will stop functioning from July 1 for an indefinite period, if the state government fails to accept the demands of the Brick-Kiln Owners Association. This was stated by Mr
S.P. Bansal, president of the All-India Brick and Tile Manufacturers Association here yesterday. Mr Bansal said the Punjab Government had increased the tax on brick-kilns from 42 per cent to52 per cent in the past 18 months. In addition, it had levied an addition royalty of Rs 45 per 1000 bricks which had rendered the business uneconomical in Punjab. Mr Bansal also demanded that a separate Labour Act should be enacted for the brick-kiln industry as the present Bonded Labour Act was being misused against it. He also said that the association had decided not to pay in advance to labourers in future. Mr Bansal said the brick-kiln owners were also facing problems due to the
non-availablity of designs of new chimneys form the Science and Technology Department of the state. |
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Job project to be opened on June 14 BATHINDA, June 11 — The employment project at Kaljharani village will be formally inaugurated by the Union Minister of Rural Development on June 14. Sources said the project — the first of its kind in the country — would be inaugurated about a year after its completion. Earlier, it was scheduled to be inaugurated by the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, on November 1, 1999. Official sources said a handloom centre, dairy farming sheds and a milch centre had been provided to unemployed youths and women. The other objective of the project was to uplift those living below the poverty line by providing sustainable income-generating assets. The infrastructure which was provided in the complex included a veterinary hospital, shopping centre, a procurement centre, a gobar gas plant, a building centre, a bank, a society, godowns, a civil hospital, fish farming and sheep rearing. Various government agencies, including the DRDA, the Punjab SC Development Corporation, Backfinco and different commercial banks were asked to develop the project jointly on 80 acres. Road network was also developed into the complex. The total cost of the project was about Rs 4 crore. |
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Raja Todar Mal Award
for revenue trainees JALANDHAR, June 11 — The Punjab Government has decided to give the Raja Todar Mal Award to outstanding trainee revenue officers and patwaris. The award has been instituted in memory of Raja Todar Mal who started the concept of revenue generation in India. Addressing revenue trainees at the local Revenue Training Centre, the Punjab Revenue Minister, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, said under the new system the annual confidential reports of revenue officers would be written on the basis of their performance during the training period. |
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CM mourns Arjan Singh’s death CHANDIGARH, June 11 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today expressed his grief over the demise of Giani Arjan Singh, father of Mr Harbhajan Singh Halwarvi, Editor, Punjabi Tribune. He conveyed his heart-felt sympathies to the members of bereaved family. Mr Natha Singh Dalam, Minister of information and Public Relations, has also condoled the death of Giani Arjan Singh. |
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Office-bearers of pensioners association PATIALA, June 11 — Mr Harbans Singh Sodhi was elected as president of the Punjab Pensioners Welfare Association. The other office-bearers are: general secretary — Mr Dayal Singh
Bajaj; senior vice-president — Mr B.S. Gautam; vice-presidents — Mr
S.L. Bansal, Mr B.S. Brar and Mr Jaswant Verma; additional general secretary — Mr Sat Pal
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Plea to hand over case to CBI AMRITSAR, June 11 — Mr Banarsi Dass Mahajan, father of the Naresh Mahajan, who was allegedly murdered two years ago in a case involving “parallel banking” has urged the DGP, Punjab, in a letter to refer the case to CBI. Mr Mahajan has sought the state government’s help to bring to book the culprits who had gotten away with the murder of his son. He alleged that the police was deliberately shielding the accused who reportedly enjoy VIP connections. Mr Mahajan revealed that at least eight investigating officers were handed over the case but failed to identify the culprits. The case thereby passed on from one officer to another in the crucial stages. In a single instance SP (city) Mr Jain had identified two suspects in the case. But the two got anticipatory bail before the case could even move further. Recently at a press conference on May 5, Mr Mahajan claimed that SSP Param Pal Singh Sidhu had admitted to serious lapses in the initial investigative stages of the murder case in that he would be personally supervising the case, no progress in the case is so far visible. Following the failure of the Punjab Police to make any headway even after two years, the family has urged the DGP to hand over the case to the CBI. |
Pension scheme hangs in balance CHANDIGARH, June 11 —The much -awaited pension and gratuity scheme in non- government aided colleges of Punjab hangs in balance. The Punjab Governor on May 31, 2000 assured to study the SAD election manifesto promise for the staff in 139 colleges under the scheme for 95 per cent grant- in- aid scheme. The scheme affects nearly 7000 employees directly. The scheme has been passed at nearly all levels of the government during the past few years. After clearance by the Cabinet the Bill was to be implemented in March 1999. Last week a delegation of non-government colleges met Mr Mohan Lal, Education Minister, for nearly three hours. The issue however remained unresolved. Prof Charanjit Chawla , general secretary of the PCCTU, said that the union has been asking the government that it should utilise more than Rs 100 crores identified in the college funds for the implementation of the pension scheme. It is being said that the government did not allow the private managements to generate the Government Consolidated Fund. Apart from holding parleys with senior government officials, the staff are planning to hold meetings among themselves.” One is fed up of going on a strike or abstaining from classes without any benefit”, Prof Chawla said. Another meeting in this direction is scheduled for June 14 later this week. Retired teachers faced the brunt of no action situation. The non- implementation of the Bill has a long history .The Punjab Assembly cleared the Bill on January 3, 1992. On December 24, 1994, Education and Finance ministers along with Education and Finance secretaries besides two MLAs of a special committee gave a green signal to the Bill. In 1995 the scheme was included in the Finance Bill and again the process was repeated in 1996.On February 14, 1996, the Finance Department sent the concurrence. Again the same year in December a 32- page notification was issued. In April 1998, the ‘ government was pleased to announce the implementation of the pension and gratuity scheme’. On March 30, 1999 Mr Prakash Singh Badal , Chief Minister , presented the Bill to the House .The Bill was unanimously passed. The Bill also figured as a government notification in the gazette of April, 1999. A crucial meeting in this regard is scheduled in the coming fortnight involving government agencies. The Education Department in its note has stressed its viability as a ‘self financing scheme’. |
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Jobless teachers
threaten stir NAWANSHAHR, June 11 — The district unit of the Unemployed B.Ed Teachers Front at a meeting held here today criticised the state government for dilly dallying with regard to recruitment of teachers. The teachers accused the government of exploitation of unemployed B.Ed teachers by demanding applications along with fee by advertising posts and then not initiating the process of recruitment. Addressing the meeting, Mr Sham Lal and Mr Bhupinder Pal Singh, president, and secretary of the front respectively, threatened to launch a stir if the government did not immediately start the process of recruiting teachers. |
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Librarians demand benefits PATIALA, June 11 — The Punjab College Librarian Association has urged the Union Human Resource Development Ministry to immediately implement its demands as agreed earlier. In a press note issued here, the association said the ministry had not implemented an earlier agreement with the association. |
School exam results
on June 14 SAS NAGAR, June 11 — The results of the science, commerce and agriculture group of the senior secondary school level examination of the Punjab School Education Board will be declared on June 14. Earlier the board authorities were planning to declare the result on June 11. The Controller of Examination of the board, Ms Harcharanjeet Kaur Brar, said the results of 19,572 students of science stream and 15,390 students of commerce stream would be declared along with the results of the agriculture stream. The entire result was being prepared on computers. She said this year efforts were being made to declare late results of minimum candidates. The gazette of the results could be seen at the book depots on June 15 after 2 p.m. For the first time the results could be seen on the Internet after 8 p.m on June 15. |
Exemption for
PMET AMRITSAR, June 11 — Dr R.S. Bawa, coordinator, PMET-2000 and Registrar Guru Nanak Dev University, stated here today that wards of Punjab Government employees posted outside the state had been exempted from submitting the “residence affidavit” for PMET-2000, scheduled to be held on June 18. However, Dr Bawa further stated that the income certificate for candidates belonging to the backward classes was essential for appearing in the test.
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