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| Wednesday, December 13, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
11 Punjab BDOs lose
jobs Gurdev Badal ready to appear at
Takht A narcotics
case every 36 hrs PCS officers
reshuffled Summons issued to
Bibi |
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BJYM to seek
party ticket Disruption of Houses decried
Disabled surgeon puts able in
shade Jallianwala Bagh survivor
disillusioned Fertility of soil, woman ‘linked’ Tubectomy sans tests:
patient Mutation delays land
auction IMA plea to form anti-quackery cell PSB accepts phone bills 4 PWD engineers
suspended
Murders: police functioning
questioned Man slits beloved’s
throat Couple commits
suicide
Clerk
recruitment test from Dec 23
College teachers
observe strike Most colleges sans heads
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11 Punjab BDOs lose
jobs PATIALA, Dec 12 — In a stunning about-turn, five years after they were selected as Block Development Officers ( BDOs ), 11 BDOs were today rendered jobless with their names not figuring in the new merit list released by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) on the directive of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had in a decision last month quashed the appointment of BDOs and Panchayat Officers ( POs ) made by the Public Service Commission in 1995 after finding inconsistency and obscurity in the selection process . The Supreme Court had taken objection to the manner in which only the interview results and not the results of the written test conducted in 1993 . The PPSC had appointed 44 BDOs and POs from a total of 4,500 applicants. The commission had pruned the number of applicants to 130 for the interview after taking into consideration their performance in the written test. The court had ordered the commission to complete the process of selection within three months in terms of the existing rules so that both the written and viva tests could be taken into consideration for the purpose of effecting appointments . The commission released a new merit list yesterday which has been pasted on the notice board at its headquarters here. Neither the commission Chairman Ravi Sidhu nor other senior officials were available for comment. Sources disclosed the case had been filed by Praveen Singh whose name did not figure in the results declared by the commission. The petitioner had stated there was always room for suspicion for common appointments if the oral interview was taken as the only criterion. Ironically, Praveen Singh did not make it in the new list released by the commission . Sources disclosed that 11 BDOs had been rendered jobless following the new merit list released by the commission . Their names are Budhi Raj Singh ( Gurdaspur ), Jagbir Singh Brar ( Gidderbaha ), B K Saldhi (Sangrur ), Darshan Singh ( Khamano ), Harkamaljit Singh ( Doraha ), Balkar Singh ( Amloh ), Capt Sidhu ( Budhlada ), Rajinder Kumar Garg (Fazilka ), Gursewak Singh ( Bassi Pathana ), Kuldeep Singh (Gurdaspur) and Narinderjit Singh. The new merit list is — General category: Amarbir Singh, Parampal Kaur Sidhu, Hardial Singh Chatha, Surinder Pal, Dinesh Kumar, Parveen Kumar, Sangeet Pal Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Jatinder Singh Brar, Gurbinder Singh, Rasal Singh, Inderjit Singh Sandhu, Ravinder Pal Singh, Preetmohinder Singh, Arun Sharma, Amardeep Singh, Surinder Pal Angra, Charanjot Singh, Amrik Singh Sidhu, Gurmeet Singh, Rajiv Meha and Rajinder Singh. Mazhabi — Paramjit Kaur, Baljit Kaur, Rakesh Kumar, Rakesh Pal, Kulwant Singh and Vinod Kumar. Scheduled Castes category: Amrik Singh, Kuldip Singh, Gurdarshan Lal, Baljit Singh, Ranjot Singh and Navala Ram. Ex-servicemen: Harinder Singh Sra, Peeyush Chawla, Capt Gagandeep Singh Virk, Arun Kumar Jindal and Jaswant Singh. Backward classes: Joginder Kumar, and Harjinder Singh Jassal. Sportspersons: Amardeep Singh Bains and Preetinder Singh. |
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Gurdev Badal ready to appear at
Takht ROPAR, Dec 12 — “I am ready to appear at Akal Takht if summoned for unknowingly violating a “hukamnama” by attending the function of the excommunicated sant, Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara, at Jagraon a few days ago,” said the Punjab Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, while addressing a press conference at Anandpur Sahib today. He explained he along with his son Kewal Singh Badal, junior vice-president of the SGPC, were passing through Jagraon when they got attracted towards a huge crowd there. There were about five lakh people, including thousands of “amritdharis”, in the gathering that motivated them to attend the function. Though they appreciated the teachings of the Baba who advocated harmony among all religions. They did not know he had been excommunicated from the Panth, Mr Badal went on to explain. Mr Badal was commenting about the controversy that errupted a few days ago when it was reported in a section of the media that he had shared the stage with Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara, who was excommunicated from the Panth through a “hukamnama” issued on August 17, 1998, by the former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh. The Baba was excommunicated for adorning “kalgi” on his head like Guru Gobind Singh and urging his followers to refer to him as “Mahabali, the avtar of Satguru”. Later, while giving details of the arrangements made by the Punjab Government for wheat procurement, Mr Badal said storage facilities for wheat would be made near the procurement mandis. Farmers having land near the mandis would be encouraged to create the plinth areas and build godowns. The state government would help the interested farmers in constructing godowns by helping them secure loans from the banks. Besides, the time limit of the rent agreement for such plinth areas had been increased from three years to seven years and those of godowns from five years to 10 years. The condition of constructing godowns within an area of 8 km from the mandis had also been revoked, Mr Badal told. Regarding lifting of wheat, he said the government had amended the rules allowing the transportation of foodgrains in tractor-trailers in addition to trucks. It had been decided that the locals around the mandis would be employed to lift and transport foodgrains in tractor-trailers to the godowns and railway stations. In addition to this, as a long-term plan to change the crop cycles in Punjab the government had decided to provide subsidies worth Rs 200 crore to farmers opting for crops other than wheat or paddy in the future, Mr Badal added. Mr Badal was at Anandpur Sahib to attend the meeting of the SC/ST ministers and MLAs of SAD. Though the agenda of the meeting was kept a closely guarded secret but sources said the MLAs discussed the situation which had arisen after the rejection of the candidature of Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Besides Mr Gurdev Singh Badal and Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu, Mr Sujan Singh, state Minister of Agriculture, Mr Sohan Singh Nandal, the state Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Chaudhary Swarna Ram, Minister for Tourism, and Mr Sohan Singh Badal were among those present at the meeting.
Puran Singh clarifies AMRITSAR, Dec 12 — Giani Puran Singh, Head Granthi, Golden Temple, has denied having issued a statement on Mr Gurdev Singh Badal and his son Kewal Singh Badal. In a press note here today, he said he had not made “any statement either publicly or to any mediaperson,” on the two. He denied having met mediapersons in this regard. |
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A narcotics
case every 36 hrs BATHINDA, Dec 12 — Cases relating to smuggling of narcotics in the district have risen by more than 250 per cent in the current year. So far, 227 cases relating to smuggling of narcotics have been registered in this district as compared to 87 cases registered in the same connection in 1999 registered in 1998. Police sources said in 1998 a case in connection with the smuggling of narcotics was registered on an average after every 92 hours. In 1999, a case was registered on an average after every 100 hours. The sources said the smuggling of narcotics had become so widespread in the region that a case in this connection was registered after every 36 hours this year. A large quantity of opium, poppy husk, charas and ganja was being ‘imported’ to Punjab by the smugglers from Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The sources pointed out that what was more worrisome was the raise in the number of women taking to this trade. So far the district police had arrested 11 women involved in the smuggling of narcotics, the number of male accused was 254. The sources said in the current year the police had seized more than 116 kg of opium, more than 6056 kg of poppy husk and 4150 gm of charas, while in 1999 9.5 kg of opium and 5319 kg of poppy husk was seized. In 1998, the seizures included only 9.5 kg of opium and 2778 kg of poppy husk. The sources said over the years, the region had become a thriving market for smugglers and drug pedlars. The smugglers had been using various vehicles to bring consignments of narcotics from other states to Punjab. The most recent trend was to bring consignments in small vehicles, including scooters and cycles. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, when contacted, said a systematic drive had been launched against the smugglers and drug pedlars in the district and informers were being cultivated to check the menace of smuggling. He said the main reason for the rise in the criminal cases relating to smuggling of narcotics registered under the NDPS Act this year was that the people were now coming forthwith information regarding smuggling without any hesitation and police personnel taking the necessary action. He said apart from poppy husk and opium, the police had also seized intoxicating drugs. At least 31 vehicles used in smuggling had been compounded in the current year. |
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PCS officers
reshuffled CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — The Punjab Government today reshuffled one IAS officer, six PCS officers and two PPS officers in the state. According to a press note Mr Vikash Pratap, Managing Director of the PEPSU Transport Corporation, will be the new Additional Deputy Commissioner of Patiala in place of Mr R.S. Randhawa who becomes Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA at Patiala in place of Mr A.S. Miglani. Mr Miglani will take over as Joint Secretary to the Punjab Government in the Department of Health and Family Welfare against a vacant post. Mr Harkesh Singh, Additional Director (Administration) in the office of the Chief Engineer PWD (B and R) at Patiala will take over as Managing Director of PRTC at Patiala vice Mr Vikash Pratap, OAS. Mr Harminder Singh, Subdivisional Magistrate at Nakodar will be the new Assistant Commissioner (General) at Moga in place of Mr Jaspal Singh. Mr Gurpreet Singh Khera, Settlement Officer, Consolidation of Holidays at Jalandhar will take over as Subdivisional Magistrate at Nakodar in place of Mr Harminder Singh. Mr Jaspal Singh, Assistant Commissioner (General Moga) will take over as Land Acquisition Collector, Improvement Trust, at Amritsar against a vacant post. Mr Gurmeet Singh, PPS, who held the post of SP (CRP)-cum-Staff Officer to the Punjab DGP, will be the new SP (ORP) at Mohali, while Mr Bachan Singh Randhawa, who was SP, Mohali, will be the new SP, SB, Inttl, Punjab at Chandigarh. |
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Summons issued to
Bibi AMRITSAR, Dec 12 — Summons were issued today by the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission to Bibi Jagir Kaur, former SGPC President, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary, SGPC, and Mr Harjit Singh, former assistant to the Bibi, in the case relating to “unauthorised” payments during the Bibi’s tenure. The case was admitted today and summons were issued to all three respondents for January 22. The preliminary hearing was held by the commission Chairman, Mr Manmohan S. Brar, and members Amrik S. Randhawa and Ajwant S. Maan. Mr Harbhajan Brar in his petition had alleged that the former SGPC chief had made unauthorised payments to colleges and other institutes. The payments, it was alleged, were made without the prior sanction of the executive and the complainant feared that these were made to “favourites”. It was pleaded that the money be recovered along with 18 per cent interest and the respondents removed from the
SGPC. |
BJYM to seek
party ticket PHILLAUR, Dec 12 — The Punjab unit of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha will demand adequate representation in the SAD-BJP coordination committees, political appointments and even in getting the party ticket for the next election to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. This was stated by the morcha’s newly appointed president, Mr Sukhminderpaul Singh Grewal, while talking to this correspondent here today. He ruled out any possibility of mid-term elections in Punjab. He said the SAD-BJP alliance was as strong as a rock and added that this principle-based alliance would contest the next election to defeat the Congress, which was responsible for several crisis of the state. Mr Grewal said the morcha would actively work against social evils, including drug abuse. He said he would complete his statewide tour till December 29 to strengthen the morcha. He said the block, district and state units of the morcha would be constituted in the second week of January. He said he would regularly hold consultations with ex morcha presidents for strengthening of the morcha. |
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Disruption of Houses decried HOSHIARPUR, Dec 12 — In a joint press note issued here today, Mr Malkiat Singh, Mr Pran Nath Joshi president and general secretary, respectively, of the Akhil Bharatiya Kalyan Manch condemned all those MPs who have not allowed Parliament to function during past few days. It said the government had to spend Rs 47 lakh daily on Parliament during session. The disruption of Parliament session caused loss of public wealth and time, it added. |
Disabled surgeon puts able in
shade AMRITSAR: In today’s competitive world, when everybody is fighting for survival, there are certain people who despite being physically disabled are achieving certain heights in life which able-bodied persons would be envious of. Dr Kamal Kumar Duggal (54), Professor and Head of the ENT Department, Government Medical College, Amritsar, is one such person. Despite being paraplegic (handicapped in both legs) since January, 1981, he has excelled in his field of ENT surgery to such an extent in this region. He has never allowed his disability to come in between him and the success. After his legs became inoperative due to an injury to the spinal cord about 20 years back, he has adapted himself in such a way that his disability has never hindered him from performing his duties be it in academics or otherwise. This should be an inspiration for other disabled people who think their disability as the end of the road for them. When a common man thinks that a disabled person is a liability, this doctor is serving humanity with his work and helping his patients getting cured. After the accident in January, 1981 at the age of 35, he faced many odds to his disability but because of his fighting spirit and by God’s grace passed all the hurdles that came in his way. He became Professor at Government Medical College, Amritsar, in June, 1981, and went on to become Head of his Department in November, 1996. He is one of the renowned ENT surgeons of the region and had performed innumerable surgeries and 10 of his papers have been published in various journals. For the past one year he has been performing certain surgeries which even the “best” in the field would have thought twice before daring to touch. These patients became alright which is not less than miracle. A young boy, Harjinder Singh, had an otogenic temporal lobe abscess (collection of pus inside the brain) measuring about 6 cm by 4 cm, was operated upon by him and pus drained through the ear operation and patient recovered fully. Another case of a young girl of Pathankot was operated upon for cerebellar abscess (collection of pus in the lower part of brain) was drained and the patient recovered. Many such cases have been operated upon and by him and the patients cured. This should inspire those who lose hope of life because of their disability and should act as an eye-opener for those who underestimate the physically disabled and do not give them a share in society. |
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Jallianwala Bagh survivor disillusioned AMRITSAR, Dec 12 (PTI) — Venue: A barren land called the Jallianwala Bagh, Date — April 13, 1919. A young lad of 13 years, Harbans Lal Uppal, along with 14 other friends has come to the Jallianwala Bagh to shout slogan “Inquilab Zindabad”. He has been inspired by Amolak Ram, who is six years elder to him and all of them are sitting next to the stage where the top leaders of the city are to address the gathering. The time is about 11 am and already a crowd of about 3000 persons has assembled to listen to the speeches of the leaders. By 12.30 pm the barren land is bursting to the seams with thousands of people squatting in the open area. Leader after leader is protesting against the Rowlatt Act, urging the people to peacefully resist the oppression. The people are listening to the speeches attentively. Mr Harbans Lal who is today 94 years old, has the memories still fresh in his mind. He, along with his friends used to collect foreign clothes from houses and burn them in streets or used to collect money for organising processions in the streets of Amritsar. His elder brother Lala Panna Lal, who was a leading political activist, was a source of inspiration for him. From Gandhi and Nehru, Mr Harbans Lal ideals became Madan Mohan Malviya, Vir Savarkar, Kewal Krishan Hindu, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Bhai Parmanand and Acharya Kriplani. His shop was a centre of attraction for the like-minded revolutionaries of the city and he continued to serve the cause till the country got independence. Talking of the terror of the British Government, Mr Harbans Lal says whenever any white officer passed through the street, the Indians had to salute him. If any body did not do so, he was subjected to torture and humiliation. He recalls that at “Kaura Wala Hoo”, the Britishers had installed a “tik-tiki” (a torture chamber of bamboo) where punishment was given to those who spoke against the government. “We used to be always afraid of being picked up by the police for supporting the cause of the revolutionaries but we were strong willed and getting independence was more important than our personal comforts”, he recalls. Mr Harbans Lal had thought that independence would bring “Ram Rajya’ and the masses would enjoy the benefits of freedom. But today he says, he is dejected and a frustrated lot. The reason, the freedom he had dreamt of has not been translated into a reality. “What advantage has Swarajya brought us? Common masses continue to be oppressed by the system. I am a small person who hardly did anything for the country. We were sepoys. But it is a matter of shame that even the families of the leaders of those days are rotting today”, he laments. He opines that the leaders of his time used to think of the people but today the leaders are busy filling their pockets. He is also disturbed over the fact that patriotism is on the wane. With corruption reigning large at all levels and change in the value system, Mr Harbans Lal feels that India is heading for trouble and the situation can be retracted only if a revolutionary leader comes forward. Unhappy with the system, he says that the people are not getting justice and they are frustrated with the authorities. His shop “Harbans Lal Kashmiri Lal” in Shastri Market, which had been earlier a hub of revolutionary thinkers, is today active with those who are concerned with the future of India. Age has not been a deterrent for Mr Harbans Lal and he still goes daily to his shop and spends time with friends talking on various burning topics. Full of humility, Mr Harbans Lal prays that may the leaders start thinking for the country and India becomes a land of dreams of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. “....shortly afterwards, a platoon of soldiers armed with guns approached the main entrance of the Jallianwala Bagh..”, he still recalls the events of the massacre.... The soldiers approaching, his inability to comprehend their intentions, he continues to raise slogans...... Immediately afterwards, he says, he heard bullets being fired in the air but the next moment, a rain of bullets is fired towards the crowd. A person standing next to him was hit by the bullet and fell on him. With the weight on him, Mr Harbans Lal pretended to have been hit by the bullet and continued to lie on the ground for more than 10 minutes, before the firing stopped. His friends helped the injured persons but soon the police arrived and they made their way out of the bagh. This incident where he had seen hundreds of innocent people being killed left a deep scar on his psyche and he vowed to fight for free India. Being a son of a businessman, he did not take to active politics but provided all necessary help to the revolutionaries and his shop at Shastri Market became a hub of intellectuals who talked of ways and means to attain independence. |
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Fertility of soil, woman ‘linked’ AMRITSAR, Dec 12 — Twentytwo papers on various aspects of folklore and its significance were presented on the penultimate day of the 21st Indian Folklore Congress being held here on the Guru Nanak Dev University campus. This congress was hosted by the School of Punjabi Studies of the university. Speaking on “the earth festival”, Dr Guru Rao Bapat said fertility and fecundity had been the major concerns of the human race since times immemorial. Fertility of soil and women are often closely interlinked in many
magico-religious practices. In his paper he threw light on one such ritual where the earth and the crops are worshipped. He concentrated on the ritual as practiced by one particular community of Karnataka. This bears a close resemblance to the ritual performed during a woman’s pregnancy and is unique because it is performed by women and presents a feminine perspective of fertility though the whole family takes part in it, he observed. Dr Jawahar Lal
Handoo, president of the Indian Folklore Congress and Chairman of the Central Institute of Languages,
Mysore, and Mr Soumen Sen of Calcutta presided over the morning English sessions and Dr
K.S. Thind and Dr Jagbir Singh of Delhi presided over the Punjabi session on folklore. Dr Ranjit Singh
Bajwa, professor at Guru Nanak Dev University, in his paper, “Ethno-psychiatric study of the psychiatric
centre”, explained the communicational complexity of how the subject unveils the problems of “software” and “hardware” i.e. brain and mind. The facial features, he said, transcribe the art of communication skills. Continuing the discussion about the significance of folklore studies in the contemporary world and especially in areas like our country and Africa, Mr
K.N. Chandra, Mysore University, dwelt at length on critical regionalism and contemporary discourse. Prof Mihir Bhatacharya of Jadavpur University spoke about the wedding songs sung by Muslim women in Murshidabad district of West Bengal. Prof Harish Narang of
JNU, New Delhi, presented his discourse on post-colonial fiction in Africa. Prof Pulikonga Subbacharya of Hyderabad, Ms Pankaj
Sachdeva, Dr Sukhdev Singh Khahra, Dr Jatinder Pal Singh, Dr Harjit
Kaur, Dr Kanwalprit Kaur, Dr Paramjit Singh Sidhu, Dr Sohinderbir, Dr Kawaljit Grover, Dr Gurmit Singh, Dr Kawaljit
Jassal, Dr Satinder Aulakh — all from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Dr Gurcharan Singh Gulshan of Srinagar, Dr Joginger Singh
Kairon, Director, Punjab University Textbook, Chandigarh, Dr Jagbir Singh of Delhi University presented their papers on various topics of folklore today. |
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Tubectomy sans tests:
patient SANGRUR, Dec 12 — Ms Alka Kothari, Senior Regional Director, Health and Family Welfare, visited the local Civil Hospital today to inquire about the health of tubectomy patients who were admitted here after complications developed following their operations for tubectomy at a family planning camp at Khanauri on December 4. Meanwhile, three women patients namely Kapoori of Andana village, Bimla of Gulzarpura village and Tejo of Banarsi village in Moonak subdivision of this
district were today shifted to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala on the direction of Ms Kothari. Four women patients are already under-treatment at Rajindra Hospital while the remaining two are being treated at the local Civil Hospital. Ms Kothari met the patients undergoing treatment here. She also inquired about their health and treatment given to them here. One of the patients reportedly shocked her by telling that even before the operation, her blood and urine tests were not conducted at the camp. Talking to TNS this afternoon here, Dr C.P. Bansal, Civil Surgeon, Sangrur, said Ms Kothari would submit her report to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry with regard to the circumstances in which this tragedy occurred. Dr Bansal claimed that the record at the Mini Primary Health Centre at Khanauri showed that pre-operative tests had been conducted on all patients. The Civil Surgeon said Rs 10,000 each had been given to members of bereaved families of Reshma and Sheela, the two women who died, after the operations. |
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Mutation delays land
auction GURDASPUR, Dec 12 — The proposed plan of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats to auction land which is no more profitable will be delayed due to the non-entry of the mutation of the land in the name of the zila parishad or the panchayat samiti. According to official sources, district boards were abolished in 1962 and the land of the boards was to be transferred in the name of respective zila parishads or panchayat samitis. The mutation of the land has been entered in the name of the Deputy Commissioner. The department is trying to get the mutation entered in the name of the zila parishad or the panchayat samiti, official sources said. The land identified by the department for auction includes 4.3 kanals on the Trimmo road which is occupied by the district police and a piece of land about the same size where offices of the Excise Department and Secretary of the zila parishad are functioning. It also includes land close to the residence of the Senior Superintendent of Police where the Circuit House is under construction. Another piece of land is under the bus stand. A committee with the Financial Commissioner (Development), Director Panchayats and respective Deputy Commissioners of districts in the state, including Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, has been formed to identify the land. The sources added that the department would have made more than Rs 100 crore by way of auctioning the land. |
IMA plea to form anti-quackery cell SANGRUR, Dec 12 — The Punjab unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in a memorandum to Punjab Government has demanded a ban on the sale of drugs without prescription by the chemists, eradication of quackery, constitution of Punjab medical council, representation of the IMA on various government committees and exclusion of medical profession from the Consumer Protection Act. Giving this information here today, Dr Surinder Singla, Press and Public Relations Secretary of the Punjab unit of the IMA, said the association had asked the state government to exterminate the cancer of quackery from society. He said there was a need to form a special anti-quackery cell in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to directly monitor the anti-quackery movement, forming separate teams for raiding the quacks and registering the cases as per requirement. Dr Singla said the state unit of the IMA was also against the decision of the Director, Health Services, Punjab, to hold medical officers responsible if any quack was found practising in their respective areas. He said the IMA wanted that the state government should give this responsibility to the district administration as it was a law and order linked problem. Dr Singla said the association had also asked the state government that circulars on the basis of which the Director, Health Services, Punjab, had authorised the non-allopaths to practice allopathic system of medicine should be withdrawn. No one except those having
qualifications as per the Medical Council of India Act, 1956, should be allowed practice of allopathic (modern) system of medicine in Punjab. The association has also asked the state government to constitute Punjab medical council which has been non-existent for the past 18 years. It is of the view that setting up of this council under rules will increase its effectiveness, force the unregistered practitioners from practicing the modern system of medicine and force qualified doctors to practice within the framework of the code of medical ethics. The association demanding ban on sale of drugs without prescription by the chemists, has mentioned a number of chemists are selling the drugs on their own which amounts to illegal practice of allopathy by them. They can be punished as per the directives of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the association adds. The Punjab unit of the IMA has also asked the state government to give its due representation on various government committees, constituted in order to formulate and implement health care delivery system in the state. The committees include the advisory committee of the Planning Commission, the Punjab Health Systems Corporation and Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. The state unit of the IMA has also urged the state government to impress on the central government to exclude the medical profession from the purview of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The association has also urged the state government to make arrangements to prevent registration of cases against the doctors by the police without verification of the facts regarding alleged negligence by the doctor during treatment of a patient. The association has also demanded pay scales, promotions, and other benefits on the pattern of the Central Government Health Services for the PCMS doctors. The association has also demanded land for establishment of private health institutions at reserve price, soft-term loans by the banks for creating infrastructure in the private health institutions and charging of electricity and water bills at domestic rates in place of commercial rates. |
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PSB accepts phone bills BATHINDA, Dec 12 — The ongoing strike by postal employees is causing inconvenience to those who have to deposit their telephone bills. Some relief has been provided to consumers by Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) as it has started accepting the telephone bills, following an agreement to this effect between the Telecommunication Department and the bank authorities. Mr J.S. Mann, Senior Manager of PSB, when contacted, said they were finding it difficult to handle such a large number of customers. Mr V.K. Verma, DGM, Telecommunication Department, said the last date for depositing the telephone bills had been extended till December 16. 4 PWD engineers
suspended CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — Four engineers of the Public Works Department, including a Superintending Engineer, have been placed under suspension by the Punjab Government here today. Three of the suspended engineers were held guilty by an inquiry committee which looked into the construction of Bhai Man Singh Samadh Road, near Gidderbaha in Faridkot district, some years ago. The committee, headed by Mr C.J. Lal, found prima facie Mr T.S. Gill, now a Superintending Engineer, Mr .K. Gupta, now an Executive Engineer, and Mr Harjinder Singh, Junior Engineer, responsible for completing only 600 metres of the 800-metre road while they charged the department for the full length of the road. On the basis of the report, the state PWD Minister, Mr Sucha Singh Langah, has ordered their suspension. In the second case, Mr B.R. Bhatia, Executive Engineer, Links Road, Batala, has been placed under suspension on disciplinary grounds. Mr Sucha Singh Langah said a survey had been undertaken to verify how much of actual works undertaken by the department have been completed as per specifications. |
Murders: police functioning
questioned FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 12 — Five murders in the sleepy village of Pawala in the district due to enmity between two families and the recent murder of Karamjit Singh allegedly in the presence of the police and his 12-year-old son has not only sent shock waves in the area, but also put a question mark on the working of the district police. People of the area are stunned over the incidents. They talk of the incident in hushed tones. Karamjit Singh’s mother, wife, son and daughter have deserted the village, apprehending threat to their lives from the police. The DIG, Patiala Range, entrusted an inquiry into the incident to three officers under Mr Rajiv Ahir, ASP, Patiala. Interestingly, the inquiry keeps being transferred from one officer to the other. Sources say politicians have a role in this. When this correspondent visited the village, the residents expressed sympathy with the family of Karamjit Singh. However, none wanted his or her name to be made public. According to Ranjit Singh, who is looking after the house, Mr Gulzar Singh, father of Karamjit Singh, was a comrade. During terrorism, he was shot dead allegedly by Jaswant Singh and his sons, residents of the same village. He said after some time Mohinder Singh, a relative of Jaswant Singh, was murdered in 1993. Karamjit Singh was blamed for the crime and was arrested. In 1995, Balwinder Singh, brother of Mohinder Singh (who was murdered in 1993) murdered an uncle of Karamjit Singh. In 1998 Gurmail Singh, who had become an approver in the Mohinder Singh murder case, was murdered. Karamjit Singh was on parole at that time and he was again named in the murder case and arrested. Now Karamjit Singh had come out on parole and his rivals hatched a conspiracy to eliminate him. He said some private hit men attempted to murder him, but he survived the attack with serious injuries. A case was registered in the Bassi Pathana police station, but no action was taken against the culprits. The murderers succeeded the second time. Mrs Jaspal Kaur, mother of Karamjit Singh, spoke to this correspondent on the telephone. She alleged that her son had been murdered. He was going on his scooter when his rivals dragged him inside their house after hitting him on the head and tied him with ropes and beat him with iron rods and lathis. She said her grandson, Kamaljeet Singh (12) on his way to school when he heard the cries of his father. He rushed to the police station at Badali Ala Singh but his cries for help fell on deaf ears. An Akali leader of the area requested the police to help the boy, but when police reached the site of the crime, Karamjit Singh was lying unconscious, seriously injured. She alleged the police took him to hospital and registered a case against him. Sources said the DIG, Patiala Range in his order dated November, 17 has mentioned that he had reliable information that the deceased, Karamjit Singh, against whom in FIR had been registered had been killed in cold blood by his opponents on account of enmity. Hence, an investigation into the matter was transferred to Mr K.S. Sandhu, SP (D), Fatehgarh Sahib and the SHO, Badali Ala Singh, transferred to the Police Lines. In his second order, the inquiry was transferred to SP (H), Mr I.S. Randhawa, from the SP (D). In the third order the DIG transferred the inquiry to a three-member committee headed by Mr Rajiv Ahir, ASP, Patiala. In the fourth order dated December 5, the inquiry was again transferred to the SP (H), Fatehgarh Sahib and then back again to the three-member committee. This has created suspicion in the minds of the people of the village, who are asking for a CBI inquiry. It is being said that some influential persons are trying to scuttle justice. When contacted, Mr K.S. Sandhu, SP (D), said there were many tacts which required a thorough investigation. Mr H.S. Saran, SSP, said till date no one had come to him regarding the murder. He said on the statements of both parties, cases had been registered. When contacted, Mr Sanjiv Gupta, DIG, Patiala Range, said guilty would not be spared. |
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Man slits beloved’s
throat JALANDHAR, Dec 12 — Enraged over the revelation that his female companion whom he had been loving passionately for the past 26 years was in fact a prostitute and had been lying all the time that she was a hospital employee, he took her to a peach orchard and slit her throat with a sickle. The 50-year-old deceased Parkash Devi had been living with her lover, Satpal, for the past 26 years in the Sangat Nagar locality. Her mutilated body was found in mysterious circumstances in a peach orchard on the outskirts of nearby Wadala village in the second week on November. Satpal, the main accused, has confessed during investigation that he committed the crime as he could not tolerate his beloved’s indulgence in prostitution who lied to him that she was working as an employee of a Kapurthala hospital. As he was not working anywhere, Parkash Devi, had been giving her “salary” to him on a regular basis for the past about 25 years to make him believe that she was really working as a hospital employee. What led the police to the accused was his sudden disappearance from his house after the identification of the body of the deceased. During the month-long investigation, the police found Parkash Devi was not an employee of the Civil Hospital, Kapurthala, and instead used to loiter about the local bus stand enticing her prospective “customers”. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said Parkash hailed from Gagret in Himachal Pradesh and had come to Jalandhar about 26 years back. She had fallen in love with Satpal, who had no source of income. They had started living together like husband and wife. Mr Yadav said Satpal never checked her antecedents during his long stay with Parkash Devi and got furious when he came to know that the woman whom he had treated like his wife had been prostituting herself. He said the moment he came to know about this, he felt betrayed and decided to do away with her. He took her to the fields on his bicycle and slit her throat with a sickle. |
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Couple commits
suicide PHAGWARA, Dec 12 — A newly married couple — Manoj (23) and his wife Renu (19) committed suicide at Mehtan village, near hear, last night. The local police has registered a case against Mrs Kamlesh Rani, mother of Manoj, under Section 306 of the IPC for abetment of suicide, Mr Jaimal Singh, SHO, sadar police station, said here today. Mrs Kamlesh Rani allegedly used to harass her daughter-in-law Renu and did not desist from pestering her even when her son objected to it. The young couple reportedly took something poisonous to end their life in order to rid themselves of their tormentor. |
Clerk recruitment test from Dec
23 SAS NAGAR, Dec 12 — The Punjab School Education Board will conduct a typewriting test for the recruitment of clerks at its headquarters here from December 23 onwards. The test is being held for those candidates who had cleared the written test held on November 4. A spokesman of the board said all roll number slips of candidates could not be mailed due to the postal strike. The candidates had been advised to procure their slips from the district textbook sales depots concerned on December 18 and 19. Candidates from Nawanshahr district could collect their roll number slips from the Phagwara textbook depot and those from other states and Chandigarh from the head office of the board. The districtwise schedule of the typewriting test is as under: December 23 — Amritsar and Bathinda; December 24 — Chandigarh, Ferozepore and Nawanshahr ; December 25 — Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur , Kapurthala and other states; December 26 — Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Mansa; December 27 — Ludhiana and Moga; December 28 — Patiala and Ropar; December 30 — Ropar; December 31 — Ropar and Sangrur, and January 3 — Muktsar and Faridkot. |
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College teachers
observe strike NAWANSHAHR, Dec 12 — Teachers of Privately-managed government-aided colleges of the district observed Vidya Bandh here today on the call given by the All-India College Teachers Federation in protest against the callous attitude of the state government in implementing the Pension-cum-Gratuity Act, 1999. They held dharnas in front of the offices of the principals in their respective colleges. PHAGWARA: On the call given by the PCCTU, teachers of the local Guru Nanak College, Ramgarhia College, Panshta, and Ramgarhia College, Domeli, on Tuesday observed Vidya Bandh in protest against the non-implementation of Pension-cum-Gratuity Act by the Punjab Government and agreement with the AIFUCTO by the Union Human
Resource Development Ministry. They boycotted classes and other academic activities and held a rally on the campus. Prof Jaswant Singh and Prof Satnam Singh, both former district presidents of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), addressed the rally. ROPAR: Teachers of the Government-aided colleges in the district, including SGTP College, Anandpur Sahib, Khalsa College, Bela, Sports and Degree College, Bhago Majra, on Tuesday observed strike of the call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union. |
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Most colleges sans heads FARIDKOT, Dec 12 — Vacant posts in the Education Department have not only created hurdles in the smooth functioning of educational institutions, but also caused harassment to students. According to reports, 40 out of 48 government colleges are working without permanent heads. Similarly, 675 senior and high schools are without heads. The post of DPI, Colleges, has not been filled after the retirement of Dr H.S. Deol 12 days ago. No action has been taken to fill the post of DPI, Schools (Administration), for the past six months. |
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