EDUCATION

91 get home science degrees
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 27
The 33rd annual prize giving function and convocation of Government Home Science College, Sector 10, was held here today. As many as 91 graduate and postgraduate students were awarded degrees.

Sapna Nanda was also awarded a Ph.D degree and thus she became the first person to do a doctorate in home science — food and nutrition from Panjab University. Prizes to outstanding students were given during the function.

Ms Neeru Nanda, Adviser to the Administrator, UT, was the chief guest. She urged the students to enlarge their vision, be good achiever and have utmost self-confidence. Dr Usha Dhawal read out the annual report.

4.10 lakh students take middle exam
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, March 27
The middle standard examinations of the Punjab School Education Board today began with over 4. 10 lakh students appearing at 2590 examination centres.

A spokesman for the board said 3,32,416 regular and 78,232 private students appeared in the examinations. The English paper was conducted peacefully and no report of copying was received.

To provide information relating to examinations, the board has also set up a control room with phone numbers 214249, 214206-10 at its office here.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Retirement order quashed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
Allowing a writ petition, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today quashed the notice and order retiring a Haryana Sub-Inspector compulsorily.

Pronouncing the orders in the open court, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice Amar Bir Singh Gill and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal, observed: “The impugned order is not sustainable on the ground of it having been issued by an authority which was not competent to pass such an order”.

In his petition, SI Amar Singh of Faridabad had earlier contended that the Superintendent of Police had no jurisdiction to issue the notice and the order. Otherwise also, the petitioner had a good annual confidential report (ACR) and had been awarded 21 commendation certificates, his counsel had added.

The respondents, on the other hand, had claimed that his integrity had been mentioned as doubtful in one of the ACRs. He had also been awarded the punishment of censure, the respondents had added.

After hearing counsel for both parties, the Judges observed that the order and the notice were being quashed as these had not been issued by the competent authority.

Labourers ‘freed’

Acting on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a warrant officer, earlier appointed by it, released 48 “bonded labourers”, including minors, after raiding a brick kiln in Gogra village in Moga district.

In his report submitted before Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar of the High Court, officer Gyan Singh stated that the detainees present in the kiln left for their destinations after being released. He added that seven alleged detainees, however, preferred to stay back and work. Two others, he further added, were not present at the kiln as they had been arrested in a case.

The warrant officer was appointed by the court on the petition filed by Dhani Ram of Muzaffarnagar district. He had alleged that 57 residents of Muzaffarnagar, were being kept against their wishes. After going through the report, Mr Justice Nijjar disposed of the petition.

Distress sale of paddy

On a petition filed by the Progressive Farmers’ Association seeking probe into losses suffered by farmers due to distress sale of paddy, Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the High Court on Tuesday issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab and the Union of India for April 16.

Claiming the losses to be in “crores of rupees”, the petitioners had earlier alleged that the same was due to the callous attitude of the State. Giving details, they had added that despite promises of providing minimum support price for paddy, the farmers were forced into distress selling due to the casual approach of the government and its agencies like the Food Corporation of India.

Seeking a probe by an “expert in the field of agriculture or by any other agency”, the Association also asked for directions to the respondents to compensate the farmers adequately and to ensure against such incidents in the future.

GCM: cross-examination of Brig concludes
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
The defence today finished with the cross-examination of a former Commander of 70 Infantry Brigade, Brig Devinder Singh. The Brigadier testified before the general court martial that Major Maneesh Bhatnagar, who is being tried for disobedience, had started preparations for inducting his company at base Point 5203 for an impending assault after being briefed on June 15.

On being asked if he knew of the acrimonious relationship between the accused officer and his Commanding Officer (CO), Col A.K. Srivastava, the Brigade Commander said that he did not know either of the officers. Stating that he learnt after June 10 that a company of 5 Para along with one of the Ladakh Scouts was being made available to him, he said he did not speak to the CO of 5 Para till June 18 because of difficulty in communication and preoccupation with tasks at hand and as “sidestepping” was the responsibility of the next higher HQ.

The court, however, disallowed the defence question asking Brig Devinder Singh whether it was correct to suggest that a company of 5 Para led by Capt B.M. Cariappa had fired only 20-30 rounds on the night of June 20-21during the entire operations as per reports.

The re-examination of the witness by the prosecution stirred a debate on whether a question put by prosecution counsel to the witness about the stages of attack could be allowed or not. Contending that the question was barred under the Indian Evidence Act, the defence counsel, Capt Rajneesh Bansal, stated that re-examination could only be restricted to issues raised during cross-examination. He added that if any new matter was raised by the prosecution at this stage, the defence should be allowed to cross-examine the witness on that issue.

The defence counsel submitted that as far as the question was concerned, it was well within the knowledge of the prosecution that right from the court of inquiry stage, the witness had categorically brought out that no order for attack was given. Therefore, the question of stages of attack would be irrelevant in the present factual circumstances.

Contending that the issue of stages of attack lay scattered in the statements of the witness and that it was essential to put them serially to bring out a clear picture, the prosecution counsel stated that if the court thought that the question constituted a new matter, it could permit the prosecution to raise it at this stage.

Stating the question was inadmissible, Captain Bansal replied that the question asked by the prosecution was a matter of general military knowledge on which a GS pamphlet could be produced, if required and no special knowledge of the witness was needed. Stating that the prosecution could not be allowed to plug loopholes in the case, he added that since cross-examination had been going on for the past three days and the question was an afterthought, there was a reasonable apprehension that a tutored statement would be brought in.

Doctor seeks quashing of PGI decision
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion for April 18 on a petition filed by Dr K.P. Singh for quashing the decision taken by the PGI’s governing body rejecting his selection for the post of Assistant Professor in Endocrinology allegedly on the basis of information supplied by former Director B.K. Sharma.

In his petition taken up by Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the High Court, Dr Singh stated that the governing body was directed to reconsider his application for the post by the High Court.

Going into the background, he added that the body had earlier also refused to select him despite the recommendation of the selection committee. He further added that no reason for difference in opinion with the selection committee was given by the body.

Giving details, the petitioner stated that Dr Sharma had his differences with the head of the Endocrinology department, Dr R.J. Dash, under whom he was working. He added that Dr Sharma was against the entrance of Dr Dash’s supporters in the institute.

Seeking directions for quashing the decision, the petitioner also asked for directions to the Union of India, the PGI and four other respondents to appoint him. Taking up the petition, the Judges today directed counsel for the petitioner to hand over the notice to Mr Anil Malhotra, on panel of lawyers engaged by the PGI.

It may be recalled that in his earlier petition, Dr Singh had contended that he had applied for the post but was not selected by the selection committee in November 1999. Thereafter, the governing body, he had added, decided to refer the matter back to the selection committee to reconsider whether there was any documentation of gross indiscipline against him. He had also stated that after the office of PGIMER reported that neither a chargesheet was served on the petitioner nor were any disciplinary proceedings contemplated against him, the matter was reconsidered by the selection committee and he was selected on January 6. 

DISTRICT COURT
Acquitted in excise case
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 27
The UT Judicial Magistrate( First Class) today acquitted Suman, a resident of Colony No 5, in a case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act.

It was alleged that the city police had recovered 28 pouches of country liquor from the accused on October 2, 1998, without any permit. The case against the accused was registered under the Excise Act in the Sector 34 police station. The accused was acquitted for lack of evidence.

Judicial remand

The UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) today awarded 14-day judicial remand to Mohinder Kaur in a case of cheating and forgery. The case against the accused was registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471,494 and 120-B on a complaint by Mr Tejinder Singh on December 15 in the Sector 39 police station. The Magistrate also issued a notice for March 28, on the bail plea moved by the accused.

The mess that is District Courts complex
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 27
The spacious building of the district courts complex, built only a few years ago, appears to have become a victim of official neglect. Lack of public utility services like telephone services and unhygenic conditions prevailing in the courts complex are creating problems for visitors here.

While talking to the Chandigarh Tribune several litigants, employees and advocates complained that they were facing a tough time due to poor condition of the public utility services in the district courts. “Neither the administration nor the court authorities are taking any steps to improve the situation”, is a common grouse.

A litigant, Mr Jatinder Singh, complained that “Even to answer the call of nature you have to visit the Sector 17 bus stand’s toilets. As all the toilets here are in a bad shape.”

“For a glass of water, we have to leave our case hearing in search of water either in the Sector 17 market or at the Bus stand, or have to carry mineral water with ourselves. None of the coolers in the courts complex are functioning” complained Mr Ramesh Gupta, another litigant.

When contacted, the president of the District Bar Association, Mr N.K. Nanda, said that at present, there were 19 courts in the District Courts. Litigants have to face a tough time in the summer as most of the coolers are in a poor condition. There is need for more water coolers in the courts. The Bar had moved many letters to the administration regarding the litigants’ problems but have not received any response till then.

Advocate, Mr N.S. Minhas, said; “Due to the stench emanating from the toilets, which, it seems are never cleaned, it is impossible to even pass through this area, what to talk about using them.”

Employees of the courts added that there were only a few water coolers, with none of them being in a working condition. Employees say that to fulfill the requirement, at least two water coolers were required.

Absence of telephone facility was another inconvenience which the visitors had to face.” For a single call, which during most times is urgent, a lot of time is wasted in searching for a PCO” another litigant, Arjun, complained.