Employee of DC’s office booked
Embezzlement of grant
From Gurpreet Singh
Tribune News Service

FEROZEPORE, Sept 30 — The police has registered a case of embezzlement against Ramesh Kumar, an assistant at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, here for allegedly pocketing a part of the grant sanctioned to compensate border residents.

The accused had allegedly forged the signatures of the former Deputy Commissioner, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, on cheques worth Rs 10 lakh on three occasions during 1999. The amount was a part of the surplus money left with the administration after the disbursement of special grant to those whose land along the Indo-Pakistan border was acquired for fencing.

However, the accused is admitted to the Civil Hospital here and is yet to be arrested. He was hospitalised after having consumed poison. The police is learnt to have posted guards at the hospital to keep a watch on him. The accused had attempted suicide after the ADC detected the embezzlement and summoned him for explanation.

Although, the police has yet to seek expert opinion to establish whether the DC’s signatures were actually forged, yet the ADC had recommended registration of a criminal case against him. The present Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, also claims that the signatures were forged by the assistant.

To substantiate his argument, Mr Sidhu said there was nothing in government files to suggest that his predecessor had accorded sanction for releasing Rs 10 lakh to the civilians.

Besides, all controversial cheques had been issued in favour of “self” rather than in favour of any civilian, suggesting foul play at the assistant’s level. The nature of embezzlement also indicates laxity on the part of bank staff that possesses the specimen of DC’s signature.

The Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Mr N.P.S. Sidhu, said the laxity on the part of the bank staff should also be taken into account during the investigation of the case. If need be, experts’ help should be sought to establish the authenticity of the forged signatures. He said the interrogation of Ramesh Kumar was likely to lead to the disclosure of names of more persons involved in the crime.

Villagers resent spending of funds
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Sept 30 — Panchayat members of Swamipur village, 10 km from Nangal, here resented the spending of the panchayat fund by the administrator.

At a sangat darshan held here yesterday, the ex-sarpanch, Mr Ashok Kumar, alleged that Rs 1 lakh from the fund had been spent without the consent of panchayat members.

The ADC (Development), Ropar, Mr J.S. Brar, who presided over the function assured the members that such incidents would be avoided in the future and the funds for development would be spent only after consultations with the villagers.

The villagers alleged that most of the panchayats in the area were informed about the function on Thursday because of which they didn’t have enough time to inform all villagers. Local leaders of the ruling parties and the Opposition were also absent.

The villagers complained about the bad shape of the approach road. They also demanded more rooms for village schools, the upgradation of the middle level school, regular water supply to certain areas, a veterinary dispensary and proper drainage of rivulets in the area.

PSEB okays loan for dead man
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Sept 30 — Can an employee get loan for construction of a house after his death?

Yes, if the employee belongs to the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

In an interesting case, on September 12, 2000, the PSEB management, sanctioned a loan of Rs 3.50 lakh to an employee, who had died about 12 years ago.

Vijay Kumar Thukral, who died on November 5, 1988, was working as an Upper Division Clerk (UDC) with the PSEB at Bathinda Thermal Plant. He applied for a departmental loan for the construction of a house on October 29, 1980.

His dream to construct his own house could not be fulfilled in his life term as his repeated efforts to get a loan did not yield any positive response from the authorities concerned.

However, the letter of sanctioning of loan which reached the family members of the deceased revived their memories and made them sad once again.

According to the letter (number 194142/327/GB/G-798/2000-2001) issued by the secretariat office (General branch), Punjab State Electricity Board, all chief engineers, General Managers, all auditors and other senior officers of different wings, have been directed to distribute the loan as per the list and recover it in 180 monthly instalments. The maximum limit of the loan would be Rs 7 lakh, the letter added.

The loan of Rs 3.50 lakh has been sanctioned to deceased Vijay Kumar Thukral despite the fact that his wife Mrs Asha Thukral had been given a job of a teacher in the special school in the colony of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) on compassionate grounds by the PSEB management a few months after her husband’s death.

The family members demanded that loan should now be given to them so they could construct their house as they were living in a rented house.

On the other hand, an employee of the PSEB told TNS on condition of anonymity that the management had been causing undue delay in sanctioning their house loans and most of the employees had been waiting for their loans for the past two decades.

PSEB engineers' plea to BBMB
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The PSEB Engineers Association had urged the BBMB not to accommodate officers of other state electricity boards at the cost of the PSEB.

The association in a statement issued here today after holding its regional meeting here today said the share of the PSEB engineers in the postings in the BBMB should be maintained and should not be given to other states. The post of the superintending engineers/ directors should be filled strictly in accordance with the approved quota by the authorities concerned.

The association has felt that adequate checks and safeguards were required to be provided as the BBMB was allegedly indulging in formulating, amending its rules and regulations and interpreting the same to the advantage of particular persons.

Ex-boxer among 12 extortionists held
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Sept 30 — A dreaded gang of criminals headed by a former police constable and a national boxer having considerable political clout, has been busted by the city police.

The SP (City), Mr Kewal Kumar, while addressing a press conference here today claimed that with the arrest of the ring leader, Jagtar Singh, alias ‘boxer’, along with 11 other members, the gang involved in several cases of extortion, terrorising people and in various anti-social activities has been busted. Jagtar was also injured in a firing incident during the Nawanshahr byelection as he was allegedly deputed by the Sikh federation leaders supporting the SAD candidate.

Jagtar said he was deputed by the Sikh Students Federation (Mehta-Chawla) group for campaigning during the Nawanshahr byelection, during which he had received a bullet injury. He claimed that he was an active member of the federation. Jagtar said that he was taken to Nawanshahr by the vice-president of the Sikh federation, Iqbal Singh Tung, who was also a personal assistant to former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran singh.

The SP said that Jagtar, who was heading the notorious ‘boxer’ gang, had been an excellent boxer of the Punjab police and had won many gold medals but due to some enmity he had taken to the world of crime.

To avenge his injuries, he vowed to take on his detractors and indulged in various crimes, Jagtar said and added that the police had forced him to quit the force. This incident had left a scar on his psyche and he took to crime to teach them a lesson. He said he now regretted leading the life of a criminal and urged the local police to allow him to mend his ways. He also requested the SP to let him join the force.

The SP said the ‘boxer’ gang was involved in smashing of the Surjit chicken house on Lawrence Road on July 25. His two brothers, an ASI and head constable, who were part of the gang, have absconded.

However, the SP denied that there was any political pressure to release them. Mr Kewal Kumar said that the gang was involved in the eviction of disputed properties and was taking a lot of amount for the job.

The police claimed that this gang was terrorising people and holding the city to ransom.

Jagtar, who was presented before pressmen, said that during the selection trial for the Olympics, he was attacked by one Sandeep Singh in 1995 and was seriously injured, forcing him to abandon his boxing career.

POLITICS

Centre betrayed voters: SHSAD
Tribune News Service

SANGRUR, Sept 30 — Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary of the SHSAD, today accused the Union Government of betraying Sunam voters by hiking the prices of petroleum products within hours of the polling in this constituency.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Prof Chandumajra described the move as “political corruption”. He said the ‘sanjha morcha’ wanted immediate withdrawal in the hike of prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas.

Prof Chandumajra announced that the ‘sanjha morcha’ would launch a “morcha” in the state to force the Union Government to withdraw the hike. He said a meeting of like-minded parties would be convened soon in this regard.

He said the hike in the diesel prices would hit the Punjab farmers.

Prof Chandumajra also said that during the Sunam assembly byelection, democracy was reduced to a mockery as the official machinery was used to work for the SAD-BJP candidate.

Chautala surprised at Bhajan’s acquittal
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Sept 30 — The Haryana Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala today said though he had all regards for judiciary still he was “surprised” over the acquittal of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal by a CBI court in the Jharkhand Bribery Case.

Terming the hike in the prices of petroleum, particularly diesel, as unfortunate, Mr Chautala said farmers should adopt other means like conservation of oil to minimise the effect of the hike, which according to him will hit every sphere of life.

Talking to The Tribune at the local Circuit House today, Mr Chautala, who was here to attend a marriage, said though he was not in a position to comment on the judgement of the court in respect of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, yet he was “surprised” to learn that Mr Bhajan Lal had been acquitted by the court despite the fact that he had “played” a crucial role in the bribery episode, “I hold the court in highest esteem but at the same time I think what more evidence is needed when Mr Bhajan Lal himself had been publicly admitting that he had rushed to Delhi to save the Narasimha Rao government in that crucial moment,” said Mr Chautala while welcoming the conviction of the former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao in the bribery case. “Such people should be nailed down for their misdeeds to serve as an example before the people of the country,” said Mr Chautala.

Asked whether he thought that a commission should be setup to cut down the delay in trial of people involved in corruption in higher echelons of power, Mr Chautala sounded a pessimistic note by saying, “you know the fate of commissions which had been setup in the past. So much so that, the report of the Indira Gandhi murder case is yet to be released by the commission concerned.” Criticising Mr Bhajan Lal, Mr Om Prakash Chautala said the former had no base in Haryana and whatever following he had been “shrinking” due to “obvious” reasons. Mr Chautala said “our following has been increasing with each passing day. You see the results of MC, panchayat and the recent byelection and assess our popularity.”

While on one hand, Mr Chautala in capacity of a farmers’ leader, preferred to term the hike in prices of petroleum prices, especially diesel as “unfortunate”, he did not say a single word beyond it apparently to save himself from the annoyance of his alliance partner BJP. Instead, he advised farmers to conserve oil so as to save their pockets from the adverse effects of the hike. “In such a situation of scarcity what else can be done but to use the product in a judicious manner. Once Iran had stopped the dry fruit supply to the USA and the latter instead to suggesting its people to rationalise the use of dry fruits appealed them to increase their production and the result is before us as the USA is the No 1 in the world now a days as far as dry fruit export is concerned”.

Asked whether, he would lower the Sales Tax hike in his state as had been advised by Union Petroleum Minister Ram Naik or extend any other means of help to farmers. Mr Chautala tried to skirt the issue by saying, “We will study the situation and will act accordingly.” He also refused to say anything on the possibility of his government to act in a way to bail out farmers in case of crisis, particularly when they were facing difficulty in selling of their paddy produce. “Actually, I am thankful to the central government for shifting only a part of the burden of the hike on the states and hike was inevitable particularly after a sharp increase in the prices of petroleum products by the oil producing countries, ” said Mr Chautala.

Dang lauds decision in JMM case
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 30 — Mr Satya Pal Dang, veteran CPI leader, has said Indians should be thankful to the judge who, in a landmark judgement convicted Mr Narasimha Rao and Mr Buta Singh in the JMM bribery case.

In a press note issued here today, Mr Dang hoped that this judgement would be helpful in fighting corruption in the country. He said the judgement of the Supreme Court that no MP could be prosecuted for voting in Parliament in any particular manner even though he might have done so after taking bribes was not correct.

Mr Dang said it only enabled the corrupt legislature to take corruption right in the chambers where legislature meet to make the law. The government should either apply to the Supreme Court to review this judgement or should take steps to amend the Constitution to make clear that if this was proved that some legislators had voted in a particular manner after taking bribes, he/she would not have this immunity and would be prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

COMMUNITY

Guru Nanak thermal plant breaks record
From Our Correspondent

BATHINDA, Sept 30 — The Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) here claims to have broken its own record by producing 2,480 lakh units of electricity in September.

This was stated by Mr U.S. Lucky, Chief Engineer, GNDTP. He said the demineralised water content of the plant had been 1.84 per cent on September 24, which was the lowest for any single day since the inception of the plant.

Petroleum price hike criticised
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — The President Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today said the Union Government had given a crushing blow to the countrymen by hiking the prices of petroleum products like diesel, petrol and LPG. He said the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal was equally responsible for the hike in the prices of these products as he (Mr Badal) had supported the decision of the Union Government in this connection.

Urging Mr Badal to withdraw support from the Union Government , Mr Tohra said the Badal Government had no sympathy for farmers.The Badal Government believed only writing letters to the Union Government to lodge meaningless protests but it had done nothing otherwise.

Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, a former minister, has also criticised the Badal Government and the Union Government for the hike.

Tussle over fate of roundabout
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Meanwhile, the people of the city have mixed feelings on the issue. Amarjit Singh, a resident of Chhoti Baradari, says that attempts should be made to keep the roundabout intact by reducing its circumference and changing the traffic-light pattern. However, others say that even the experiment will also not be successful and the roundabout should be removed to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

Change in crop pattern urged
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Sept 30— “The primary reason for the economic backwardness of the farming community was the farmers themselves. They were not willing to change the crop pattern and the sowing of only wheat and paddy crops was leading to stagnation.”

This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr J.S. Bir, while addressing a gathering after inaugurating a Kisan Mela held at Rakhra village near here on Saturday. The mela, which is an annual feature, was organised by the Young Farmers Association (YFA) on the YFA campus.

Mr Bir said that the farming community should be ready to face challenges posed by the agreement reached on the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT). He said although Punjab was contributing 60 per cent of the total wheat and 40 per cent of the paddy stocks to the national buffer stocks, yet the farmers had to gear up to change the crop pattern as this was imperative due for their economic prosperity.

He added that the state government was fully supporting the former community and was providing loans of Rs 1 crore to the farmers who wanted to have their own cold storage facilities. There was a 25 per cent subsidy on the loan.

Senior Akali leader, Mr S.S. Rakhra, and Mr B.S. Malik, a renowned agriculture scientist, were also present on the occasion. 

97,530 went to the polls in Sunam
Tribune News Service

SANGRUR, Sept 30 — In the byelection to the Sunam Assembly constituency 97,530 voters (70.1 per cent) out of 1,39,085, exercised franchise at 147 polling booths yesterday.

Giving details on the votes polled in the constituency, Mr Praneet Bhardwaj, Returning Officer, Sunam, today said 44,000 women used their right to vote in this byelection.

Mr Bhardwaj said in Sunam town 21,404 voters (60.06 per cent) out of 35,635 and in Cheema Mandi 4,322 voters (63.52 per cent) out of 6804, exercised franchise. In the rural areas 71,804 voters (74.29 per cent) out of 96,646 cast their votes.

Mr Bhardwaj said all 147 electronic voting machines used in the polling had been kept in two strongrooms in the I.T.I at Sunam. These were being manned by jawans of the CRPF, he added.

Food Secretary visits mandis
From Our Correspondent

NAWANSHAHR, Sept 30 — Mr P. Ram, Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, today visited mandis of Nawanshahr and Banga. He presided over a meeting of the officials and rice shellers owners here to take stock of the paddy procurement. He also heard the grievances of farmers. He said 10 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been purchased in the mandis of the state and 34 per cent of it had been purchased by the FCI. He assured the rice shellers owners that FCI would soon start purchasing levy rice as per specifications and payment of it would be made at Nawanshahr instead of Jalandhar.

LSE poll results
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Sept 30 — Mr Jaspal Singh and Mr T.S. Thapar have been elected Directors in the Ludhiana Stock Exchange Management. The election was held today.

Out of the 219 votes polled Mr Jaspal Singh got 136 votes and Mr Thapar got 107. Mr Sunder Das Arora got just 99 and Mr Rakesh Jain got 94 votes. It may be mentioned here that Mr Jaspal Singh was the opposition party candidate.

The results will have a bearing on the functioning of the management. Mr Vishwanath Dheeri, president of the Ludhiana Stock Exchange while commenting on the election said, “We accept the mandate of the members. We hope that there will no obstacles in the proper functioning of the exchange.”

Lance Naik cremated with honours

HOSHIARPUR, Sept 30 (PTI) — The mortal remains of Lance Naik Manjit Singh of 102 Engineering Regiment who laid down his life at the Khurba Bang traffic checkpost in Kargil on September 27, were consigned to the flames with full honours at his native Bahadurpur village in this district today. The martyr is survived by his wife, father and two brothers.

Jatha of 459 Muslims arrives at Attari
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 30 — A jatha of 459 Muslims led by Mr Khalid Iqbal arrived at the Attari railway station yesterday for paying obeisance at Ajmer Sharif and to Nizamuddin Aulia. The jatha will return to Pakistan on October 10. Intelligence sources said a vigil would be kept on the jatha members.

Dasehra assured at blast site
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Sept 30 — Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Minister of State for Health, reiterated that Dasehra would be celebrated with the same ardour as was done on earlier occasions at Shivala Bhaiyan. His statement put to rest the fear that the festival at the mandir may not be celebrated due to the blast that took place on the premises recently. Dr Chawla made the statement during a survey of the mandir and the blast site. Members of the BJP and Bajrang Dal councillors of the Municipal Corporation accompanied the minister.

ADMINISTRATION

Police to probe embezzlement
Tribune News Service

FEROZEPORE, Sept 30 — The district police will investigate the embezzlement of border area grant of Rs 10 lakh during 1999 detected here recently by the administration.

Stating this here yesterday, the Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Mr N.P.S. Sidhu, said a case was being registered against Ramesh Kumar for allegedly pocketing the grant money by forging signatures of former Deputy Commissioner Gurdev Singh Sidhu.

The ADC had earlier recommended that a case be registered against Ramesh Kumar, an assistant in the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Ramesh Kumar has been accused of forging the signatures of Mr Sidhu on cheques worth Rs 10 lakh on three separate occasions to pocket the money received to compensate farmers whose land had been acquired for raising security fence along the international border.

The police says the case will be investigated and bank officials suspected behind the crime may be booked. Since the specimen of the Deputy Commissioner’s signatures are available with the bank, the connivance of the bank staff cannot be ruled out.

All possibilities will be taken into account and if need be the help of experts shall be sought to establish the authenticity of the signatures.

In all, three cheques bearing the signatures of Mr Sidhu were issued under the “self” title, raising doubts in administrative circles. Subsequently, the ADC had summoned Ramesh Kumar. He attempted suicide by consuming poison, fuelling suspicion of his involvement in the mischief.

Govt urged to release daily allowance
From Our Correspondent

BATHINDA, Sept 30 — The Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes Employee Federation, Punjab, has urged the Punjab Government to release the daily allowance installments for the month of July, to employees in various government departments.

In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Hameer Singh Malli, press secretary of the Federation, Bathinda unit, said the central government had released the installment to all employees. However, the state government was not ready to do so, he added.

He pointed out that the employees were not satisfied with the state government as it had not issued bonus for many years. This had resulted into resentment among the employees. He demanded that the government should release the installment as well as bonus for the employees as early as possible.

CRIME

Jewellers buy stolen ornaments: SSP
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Sept 30 — While the glitter of gold attracts one and all in Amritsar, one of the biggest gold markets of northern India, as high as 40 per cent of city jewellers reportedly buy stolen jewellery.

This was disclosed by the SSP, Mr Param Pal Singh Sidhu, here today, even as he denied having received intimation from the Bathinda police, which nabbed the “kale kachhewale” gang, about looted jewellery being supplied to Amritsar markets.

He said a majority of jewellers, numbering more than 1,000 prominent ones, were involved in illegal transaction of gold as well as buying of stolen jewellery.

The quantity entered in logbooks and accounts was always less than the actual gold in possession of a jeweller.

Judicial remand for sarpanch
From Our Correspondent

KAPURTHALA, Sept 30 — Mr B.J. Nangli, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, today ordered the arrest of Mr Sharanjit Singh, sarpanch of Lakhan Ke Padde village and six others of the same village under Sections 354, 427, 452, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Section 3 of the Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and remanded them in judicial custody till October 12.

The six others remanded in judicial custody are Ladi, Hardip Singh, Jaswant Singh, Karnail Singh, Sadhu Singh and Sonu.

Mr Nangli ordered the summoning of the sarpanch and others following a complaint filed by a Dalit woman, Gurmit Kaur, of the same village in the court.

Gurmit Kaur has alleged that the sarpanch, along with his supporters, entered her house on January 27 demolished the kitchen and verandah and misbehaved with her members of her family.

Liquor vends raided
From Our Correspondent

RAJPURA, Sept 30 — As part of a drive launched by the police here, liquor vends all over the subdivision were raided. Cases have been registered against 50 persons in this regard.

Police seized nine bottles of English Wine from Harminder Singh of Rajpura, 12 bottles from Vibhav Sharma of Roorkee, 75 pouches of Heero Whisky from Anil Kumar of Ambala Cantt, 27 pouches from Bhupinder Singh of Suro and eight bottles from Sukhdev Singh of Kalta.

House of Mathar Singh of Ajrour was raided and many stolen items recovered. All arrested persons have been fined under the Excise Act.

Robbers strike in police uniform
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, Sept 30 — More than six robbers in police uniform forcibly entered the house of Joginder Paul at Panj Dherra village here on Thursday last night.

According to reports received here yesterday, the robbers were armed with lathis. They decamped with two wrist watches, cash and gold ornaments.

The police has registered a case under Sections 456, 380 and 542 of the IPC. The police has rounded up a few persons.

Manhunt for blast case suspect
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Sept 30 — The police has launched a manhunt for a contractor Asgar Ali in the case of a blast that took place on September 26 on the premises of Shivala Bhavan.

The blast which smashed window panes and led to the collapse of the roof in the nearly 3000 sq feet of area was allegedly due to the illegal stocking of potash for the oncoming Dasehra festival effigies.

The Bajrang Dal, the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had disclaimed the forensic team theory of the blast due to storage of potash and cracker material, and blamed the ISI for the ‘mischief’.

However, a case against the illegal storage of unlicensed potash leading to loss of a life and serious injury to seven others has been registered at Civil Lines police station.

However, Mr Param Pal Singh Sidhu, SSP, said the main contractor of potash Asgar Ali had been absconding since the day of blast.

Burail Jail warden’s remand extended

ROPAR, Sept 30 (PTI) — A local court today extended judicial custody of warden of high security Burail Jail Om Vir Singh till October 14.

Om Vir Singh, who was earlier remanded in judicial custody till September 18, was arrested by the Punjab Police on the charge of trying to fax a message of militants lodged in Burail Jail near Chandigarh to their supporter in England.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate D.S. Malwai granted anticipatory bail to “human right leader” Baghal Singh whose visiting card was seized from the possession of Om Vir Singh

Youth festival winners felicitated
From Our Correspondent

At the function 105 students, artists, their managers and principals, representing various affiliated colleges of Punjabi University, were felicitated for wining in the Inter-Zonal Youth Festivals of Punjabi University, the North Zone Inter-University Youth Festival and the National Inter-University Youth Festival.

Thapar students join classes
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Sept 30 — The first year BE students of the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, who recently boycotted the classes in protest against the fee hike, have rejoined the classes.

As a disciplinary action, the students had been asked by the institute Director, Dr M.P. Kapoor, to vacate the hostel on September 20. However, the authorities later communicated with the parents of the students, asking the latter to join the classes by September 27 on the condition of maintaining discipline on the campus.

The Dean of the Students Affairs, Dr H.B. Sharda, said the demand of the BE students is under consideration by the board of governors. However, Mr Sharda said keeping in view the rise in the free structure imposed by the government of Punjab, the fee hike by the institute was justified.

Some first year BE students said they were hopeful that the authorities would revise the fee structure in favour of the students.