HUDA DTP faces charge sheet
By Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Sept 27 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is planning to chargesheet the District Town Planner (DTP) involved in the approval of a plan for a residence in 1987 for irregularities after the matter was brought to the notice of the authorities recently.

Interestingly, the fact came to light only after HUDA started issuing resumption notices to the residents for illegally opening backdoors without the approval of the authorities concerned and in violation of the HUDA byelaws. The matter was reported when such notices were issued to residents of Sector 4.

The owner of the house in question (390 in Sector 4), according to sources in the office, justified the opening on one side of the house as one approved by HUDA in the building plan after a resumption notice was issued. On inquiry, it was found that HUDA had allowed the opening and the then DTP had got the plan sanctioned in 1987.

However, according to rules laid down by HUDA, though corner plots have the privilege of opening side gates in the houses, these are not allowed in houses along the 30-metre wide roads to avoid accidents.

The Administrator, Mr Sandeep Garg, when contacted, confirmed that the matter had been brought to his notice and further investigation had confirmed that the gate had been wrongly approved. He added that the matter was being referred to the higher authorities which would take suitable action after scrutiny.

The higher authorities confirmed that the DTP involved in the forwarding of the faulty plan would also be taken to task by his parent department and was likely to be chargesheeted for knowingly getting the department into a soup.

The issue was first raked up by the Residents Welfare Association of Sector 4 which alleged that the house owner along with a few others was flouting rules with impunity when they were being served resumption notices for opening side gates and backdoors at their residences.

The President, Mr S.D. Daid, said: ''We confirmed from the owner and his immediate neighbour who informed that they had been exempted since HUDA had itself approved the gates. On this plea, we were looking forward to get exemption for the same but we were told that the earlier approval was in violation of the rules.''

The two house owners were not available for comments on how the said gates were sanctioned in spite of not being under the preview of the DTP or even the higher authorities of HUDA having their offices in the city.

Negligence by GMCH alleged
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — A local resident, Ms Kamaljit Kaur, has claimed that her mother, Jagjit Kaur, died on August 26 due to alleged negligence on the part of the medial staff on duty at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.

Ms Kamaljit Kaur, an employee of an automobile company, claimed this at a press conference here today. However, she could not provide any evidence to support her allegations, saying the documents were lying with the lawyers. She alleged that her mother did not receive proper medical attention at the GMCH for more than 12 hours after she had met with a road accident near Sector 18.

Despite the fact that she was immediately rushed to the hospital at around 12.30 p.m., she was wheeled in for an x-ray well after 11.30 p.m. She claims that the postmortem clearly indicates that her mother died following severe head injuries but her mother was not recommended for a CT scan. 

PCA security guard kidnapped, beaten up
From Kulwinder Sangha

SAS NAGAR, Sept 27 — In a case of alleged police high-handedness a security guard of Cricket Stadium here was picked up by five persons, one of whom was in police uniform, beaten up and dumped on the roadside in Ropar. He returned home last night.

Mr Swaran Singh (22), a resident of Kambala village, near here, who is a security guard at the “C” ground of the stadium, said today that the kidnappers came in a Tata Sumo. Four of them were in plain clothes and had their faces partly covered while the fifth, he alleged, was the munshi at the Phase XI police post, Mr Jaswinder Singh. They came to the “C” ground while he was on duty on the night of September 25, slapped him, damaged his bicycle, dumped him in a jeep and took him away. This had happened around 10 p.m.

Mr Swaran Singh said in the vehicle he was given an injection and he lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness for a few minutes he found himself lying in a room. However, in the morning he found himself lying on a roadside and on asking a passerby he was told that it was Ropar town.

He said as he had pains all over his body, he lay down in a park nearby. Around noon he started walking back as he had no money. Now and then he asked cyclists on the way to give him a lift and finally reached his home in Kambala village at night.

Mr Swaran Singh’s duty was from 4 p.m. till 12 at night on September 25. However, as his marriage had been fixed for October 1, his colleague used to relieve him two hours early, as part of a personal arrangement so that he could look after the work at home.

Mr Baljinder Singh, who was to relieve Mr Swaran Singh from duty at 10 p.m. on September 25, told this correspondent that when he reached the “C” ground, he saw the damaged bicycle near the main gate of the ground. He rushed to the main gate of the stadium to enquire about Mr Swaran Singh. The security guard on duty there did not know his whereabouts. Instead he told Mr Baljinder Singh that a munshi from the police post of Phase XI had come around 8.30 the same evening to make a complaint against Mr Swaran Singh who, he alleged, had threatened him.

When this correspondent visited the stadium today the security guard on duty confirmed that Mr Jaswinder had visited the stadium on the night of September 25. His name had also been noted down in the entry register. The damaged bicycle was still lying near the main gate of the “C” ground and a patch of spilt red paint was visible.

Mr Baljinder Singh said he then went to Kambala and found that Mr Swaran Singh had not reached his home. Then Mr Mehar Singh, the village sarpanch and brother of Mr Swaran Singh, and some relatives along with Mr Baljinder Singh met the munshi at the police post around 11.15 p.m. They along with the munshi searched all over, including in the nullah near the stadium and hospital, but in vain.

Mr Mehar Singh said that around 1.30 a.m. a complaint was lodged with the police.

He said that on September 25 around 8 p.m. he had gone to the Phase XI market to buy paint. When he reached the shop he saw the munshi, Mr Jaswinder Singh, sitting there. The munshi, who owns a kinnow orchard in Kambala, asked Mr Swaran Singh as to why he had not finished the deweeding work at the orchard after agreeing to finish the work for Rs 600. He told the munshi that only a part of the work remained. Besides, he had taken only Rs 400 so far. As he was getting married he was busy in making other arrangements.

The munshi, he alleged, then abused and slapped him at the shop. He then purchased red paint and returned to the “C” ground at the stadium from where he was picked up.

The village sarpanch, Mr Mehar Singh, the father of Mr Swaran Singh, Mr Babu Singh, Dr Jasmer Singh, who also belongs to the village, and other residents demanded a probe into the incident.

Mr B.S. Randhawa, SP, said that Mr Swaran Singh had not been kidnapped but had gone somewhere on his own and was now trying to concoct a story. However, he said, he had asked to SHO to verify the facts and report back.

Oberoi's charges blantant lies, says Gujral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — The UT Home Secretary, Mr R.S. Gujral, termed the allegations levelled by Mr S.S. Oberoi, his father-in-law, as ‘‘blatant lies’’. ‘‘I do not want to say anything more on it and get involved in a slanging match with him,’’ Mr Gujral added.

Mr Oberoi had alleged in Ludhiana yesterday that Mr Gujral wanted to enter into business. Mr Gujral said: ‘‘When I was coming back from the USA, Manpreet's sister handed over a bag asking me to hand it over to her father and I did the same. And I have no knowledge about the fax Mr Oberoi claims to have received. With my status why would I get involved in such businesses.''

Actually Manpreet and her sister had talked to their father about some order for shawls and ''I did not come into the picture even once. Manpreet's sister offered Manpreet some kind work in the business of shawls in India and orders had been placed even before I was consulted so the question of my involvement does no arise.''

On the allegations of his holding a piece of land at Nadha village, near Panchkula, Mr Gujral said: ''I have obtained proper permission and prior approval before buying the property as per service conduct rules. The plot is in my name, it is not benami.''

A few days ago Mr Gujral had alleged that his wife, Manpreet, had concealed her marriage before entering into matrimony with him.

Govt house allotments cancelled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — A section of employees who are allotted government accommodation in the city are in the habit of subletting their houses. The idea is to retain the government accommodation while living in their own houses and get some kind of income as rent from the tenants.

In the past nine months allotments of 23 such houses in types XI, XII and XIII have been cancelled. The Estate Office has also written to the departments where the employees work about the misuse of government accommodation.

Normally this invites departmental action but the onus to do so is in the hands of the department where the employee is working. Employees from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are allotted houses in the city.

More action against sub-letting is in the pipeline as notices have been sent in several more cases while a fresh survey has been ordered to check for misuse of type X houses also. The arrangement suits the tenant also as the rents of sublet properties are on the lower side as compared to residential areas in the same localities. Besides this, the advantage is that all government houses that are usually sublet are centrally located in Sectors 7, 10, 11, 19, 20 and 22.

Normally a two bedroom or three bedroom accommodation in such sectors is available at between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000. In the case of government houses the rents are almost half of this. Most such employees who sublet their houses have their own houses in the surrounding villages. Being well settled in their own surroundings the employees prefer to give their houses out on rent. Some of them also keep the houses locked. In such cases the property is locked after lunch hours. The house is mostly used by children of the allottees as they happen to study in Chandigarh. In some cases the houses have been locked for several months.

The AEO, Mr S.P. Arora, when contacted, said: ''We issue notices and two to three personal hearings are given. A public notice is also given before any action is taken.'' In most cases the replies are not filed.

Sources say the duty to evict these allottees then lies with the Enforcement Wing under the Public Premises Act. In some cases the allottees vacate the houses while others do not and a fresh round of action has to be initiated.

COMMUNITY

Elaborate arrangements for Navratra Mela
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Sept 27 — The Mansa Devi shrine is being decked up yet again and scores of small shops lining the shrine’s approach road are preparing for the annual rush of devotees who throng the temple during the Navratra Mela which begins tomorrow.

At the temple complex, floors are getting a last-minute scrub and efforts are on to complete pending works before the eight-day mela begins. Shrine board officials are checking and cross-checking their arrangements for darshan and langar.

The Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, will inaugurate the mela with a puja archana and will later participate in a havan at the yagyashala on the premises.

Each day’s programme begins with puja at 7 am; havan will be performed from 8.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. followed by satchandi path from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The devi bhagwat katha will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Besides this, Ms Chitra Amrik Singh and Mr Devki Anand will perform at the bhajan sandhya on October 2 at 6.30 p.m. while the Agnihotri Bandhus will hold the bhajan sandhya on October 3. The evening programmes will conclude with a jagran which is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. on October 4, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sandeep Garg, said.

Three bhandaras will be held regularly in the complex and will continue throughout the day. Fair price shops have been set up and vendors have been given permits along the road leading to the shrine.

Arrangements for devotees have been given top priority with adequate arrangements for drinking water having been made at the venue and two dispensaries, along with a mobile dispensary, will provide medical services round-the-clock. While Dr Vijay Garg has been appointed mela officer by the Health Department, Dr Rita Kalra has been appointed Deputy Mela officer. In addition, 10 beds have been reserved in the General Hospital, Sectors 6 and 10, to meet any exigencies, special arrangements have been made to ensure electricity supply right through the Navratra celebrations.

Giving details of the police arrangements, the Superintendent of Police, Ms Kala Ramchandran, said that 12 nakas would be set up for the mela and five magistrates had been appointed for maintenance of law and order. Moreover, nine patrolling parties, five gazetted officers, six inspectors, 99 non-gazetted officers, 144 head constables, 410 constables, 20 lady constables and 10 traffic constables will be on duty for the mela. Over 100 Home Guard volunteers have also been posted at the venue.

Shatabadi passengers welcomed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — Travellers on the Shatabadi train, who arrived in the city today, were in for a pleasant surprise. About 20 young boys and girls from the Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, dressed in blue, greeted the passengers in the morning and evening Shatabadi trains with flowers to commemorate World Tourism day.

The floral welcome, organised by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Chandigarh, was received extremely well by the passengers.

The president of the association, Mr Manmohan Singh, said it was for the sixth consecutive year that passengers on the Shatabadi train were being accorded welcome on their arrival to the city on World Tourism Day. The association conducts similar exercise with hospitality units of different institutions every year.

Also present on the occasion were Mr Naveen Nanchahal, Principal, and Ms Bharti Tyagi, Vice-Principal of the Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management.

But it seems that for wholesellers seasonal changes do not make much of a difference. “We are really not affected much during shradhs as we just supply the product to our retailers. But to the retailer the difference is rather high,” says Dinesh Kakkar, Managing Director, Sangam Industries. 

Picnic trip for slum children
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — More than 115 under privileged children had the opportunity to visit places of tourist interest here today.

The function was organised by CITCO on the occassion of World Tourism Day. Children from Bal Niketan, Sector 15, Lions Deaf and Dumb School and Unchai, Sector 27, were taken for a picnic to International Dolls Museum, Rock Garden and the Sukhna Lake.

The children from Unchai belong to slum areas of Sector 4, Panchkula, and Bapu Dham Colony. Some of them even work as household helps. Sombati, who is studying in Class III, said, “This is my first visit to this place and I am extremely happy on this picnic with my friends.’’ Jay Lashmi, Sushma and Jay Kumar also had similar experiences and their eyes were glowing with happiness.

The children from the Deaf and Dumb School showed their happiness in the language of signs as even a few of them visited this place for the first time. Even Ruchika and Supriya from Bal Niketan had similar views.

In last CITCO arranged for refreshments at the lake.

Competitions mark Tourism Day
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — As many as 265 students from different schools participated in an inter-school painting competition of World Tourism Day organised by CITCO at Hotel Mountview here today.

Prof V.N. Singh and Prof Bhim Malhotra were the judges for the day. Mr Vivek Atray, Director, Public Relations, presided over the function. The students were divided into two categories, senior from class VI to class VIII and junior category from class III to class V. Every school put forth five participants in each category.

The winners from the Junior group were: First Tania Verma and Second Apeksha Parakash, both from Hansraj Public School; Third Reenu from Government Model School, Sector 27;

The winners for the Senior group were:

First Deepali Thapar from Government Model School, Sector 35; Second Harminder Kaur from Government Model High School, Sector 36 and third Hardeep from Government High School, Khuda Lahora.

Students were also given away consolation and special prizes. Later in the day an inter-school declamation contest was organised at Hotel Shivalikview, where the topics were based on the theme of tourism. Students from Classes IX to XII and two participants per school participated. Judges for the declamation contest were, Prof S.S. Bhatti Former Principal, College of Architecture, Ms Marg Bhurman and Mr Kin Singh. Mr V. Gupta presided over the function.

The competitions involved the students and made them aware of tourism and its importance with special reference to the city. In Hotel Shivalikview and Mountview, a lucky dip was organised for customers visiting the hotel today where a lucky draw will be carried out and the customers will get 20 per cent to 50 per cent discount cards of these hotels.

Slum children steal the show
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — Not a sign of confusion on their faces, not a bit of fear in their voice. The odd 15 children from Janata Colony, Sector 25, today won over a number of hearts today with their innocent yet powerful performance in the play titled Khichdi. The children began their show with a bang and ended it in the same tone, doing full justice to the theme of the play which was based on a folk tale. Interestingly, the play matured in an extremely comic manner, just as it was meant to be. It also came across as a very-economically planned project, the one which required more commitment than money, and commitment was being displayed in loads, as every scene of the play progressed.

Directed by a theatre artist himself, the play was based on a very simple theme which was projected in quite a sensible and plain manner. Sans technicalities and modifications, the show proved to be a great success and each one in the gathering went home laughing. “The play was indeed a comedy and its message is singular — never pay heed to what others say. Just follow your own heart and mind,” says the director Zulfikar Khan, who has been holding a number of theatre workshops with these children, apart from other children also.

The story rolled on with a scene where in two friends (played by Sandeep and Vikrant) are shown savouring a dish of khichdi. Vikrant is very impressed with the preparation and goes about announcing that he will keep eating khichdi. In the middle of his journey, Vikrant falls in a pit and forgets the name he was calling. So he loses track of the word khichdi and starts on with another expression kha-chidi which lands him into a major trouble with a farmer (played by Balwinder). From then on, Vikrant keeps getting beaten up by all and sundry, just because he trusts in what people tell him. In reality, however, they have been misleading him.

It is only towards the end that Vikrant realises that a lot of damage has already been done. He then pledges not to go by the word of others.

Today’s show saw some very good performances from a host of actors whose ages ranged between 20 years to seven years. The 20-year-old Rahul, who acted in the play said, “We polish boots in the mornings. Later we rehearse. It was a great experience performing in front of such a major gathering.”

The seven-year-old Vicky, who gave a strong performance, was equally excited, “I will keep on acting,” he said. His friend and age mate Sumit sounded more than just happy. “

Among other performers in today’s play which was enacted on the premises of Government College of Arts, Sector 10, were Bikram, Johny, Rohil, Sunny, Mausin, Amit and Tony. The same team had earlier enacted a play titled Desh Bhakti in Tagore Theatre. The children have also done a number of street plays.

Tourism Quiz
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — In continuation of the ongoing festivities to mark World Tourism Day, the Foodcraft Institute organised a tourism quiz, on its premises, here today.

Rajesh Punia and Rajiv Dahia from the Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management emerged winners followed by Nitin Bir and Puneet Randhawa, a team from the Essex Farms.

Neeraj Raheja and Jitender Malik from Yatri Nivas were adjudged second runners-up of the quiz, based on questions on the hotel industry, tourism technology and eco-tourism in individual, buzzer, visual and rapid-fire rounds. Mr Alok Shivapuri, Principal, Foodcraft Institute, gave away the prizes.

Later in the evening, students of the institute presented a musical programme followed by a culinary show called ‘Globetrotters’ Dinner’ which featured international cuisine of eight countries around the world.

Trekking through Kulu valley
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — The Nehru Yuva Kendra, Chandigarh, is organising a programme of trekking through the Kulu valley. A 10-member team of boys belonging to the Chandigarh Adventure Association and the Youth Club, Khuda Ali Sher, were flagged off by Mr K.L. Khanna, Director, Punjab and Chandigarh, NYKS, for the Kulu valley yesterday.

According to Mr Khanna,15 Nehru Yuva Kendras in Punjab and Chandigarh are organising 15 programmes on similar lines throughout the zone, in which 150 youth are participating. 

CRIME

7 booked for occupying house illegally
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — The police has booked seven persons on the charge of taking a house in possession by breaking open its lock here.

According to the police, the registration of the case follows directive from Mr Ajay Singh, Judicial Magistrate (First Class) yesterday.

The complainant, Mr Sagar Singh Gularia, a resident of Sector 30, had filed a complaint before the court alleging that the accused took the possession of the house between June 26 and July 2 this year.

The accused, all residents of Sector 30 here, are Nathya Devi, Deepak Kumar, Sri Ram, Harkrishan, Kashmira Singh, Hukkam Singh and Bhajan Kaur.

A case under Sections 448 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered.

Theft
Mr Piare Lal of Empire Store, Sector 17, reported that someone has stolen Rs 2,000 and a passbook from the dicky of his scooter (CH01-3566) while the scooter was parked in the Sector 34 parking lot yesterday.

A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered.

Sanitary items stolen
Mr Jagdev Singh of Radiala village in Ropar district reported that Jagdish Singh of Nabha in Patiala district had stolen sanitary items from the GMCH, Sector 32.

The police has registered a case under Sections 380 and 411 of the IPC against the accused who was caught redhanded.

Chain snatched
Ms Surinder Kaur, a resident of Sector 55, said that two unidentified persons came on a scooter (CH01-A-5252) and snatched her gold chain near the Sectors 40-41 crossing last night.

The police has registered a case under Sections 356 and 379 of the IPC.

Liquor seized
The police has arrested Raj Kumar, a resident of Shanti Nagar in Mani Majra, from Sector 20-D and recovered 48 pouches and six bottles of whisky from his possession.

A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise act has been registered.

SAS NAGAR

Scooterist dies
A scooterist, Amardeep, who was admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, after being injured in an accident on Sepetmber 24, succumbed to his injuries last night.

The deceased was injured when his scooter was hit by a motor cycle being driven by Shri Niwas who was also injured in the mishap. The police has registered a case under Sections 337 and 304-A of the IPC.