The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

HIGH COURT
No prisoner release under amended Act
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 16
Taking serious note of a notification amending the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners’ (Temporary Release) Act, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed that “no release will be made under the impugned rules”.

The Bench, comprising Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice A.S. Garg, also directed Punjab’s Inspector-General of Prisons, along with the Home Secretary concerned, to be present in court on April 19.

Through the notification, Sub Section 2-A was inserted in Section 3 of the Act. As per the sub section, a prisoner undergoing a sentence of life imprisonment may be released “for six months or less in parts during five years”.

After going through the notification, the Bench, on February 28, had observed: “We are prima facie of the opinion that this provision cannot stand the test of law”. The Judges had also directed the IGP to furnish a list of prisoners released under the provision.

The notification was placed before the Bench on a petition filed by Nihal Singh of Dirba village in Sangrur district. In his petition, Nihal Singh had sought the suspension of sentence and release on bail on medical and compassionate grounds during the pendency of the appeal. He, along with others, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder by Sangrur’s Additional Sessions Judge.

Sessions Judge told to answer charge

Staying the pronouncement of orders by Bathinda’s Sessions Judge in a case pending before him, Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar of the High Court today directed him to forward his comments on the allegation of pre-judging the matter.

In his petition, Naib Singh and four other residents of Malkana village in Bathinda district submitted that on April 4 his counsel was told that the factual part of the judgement had already been dictated. When counsel requested him to hear arguments and to decide the case on merit without pre-judging the issue, he was rebuked.

After hearing counsel, Mr Justice Nijjar directed the Sessions Judge to submit his comments within 14 days of receiving the order’s copy. The case will now come up on May 17.

Proceedings heard by CJM stayed

Staying further proceedings before Rohtak’s Chief Judicial Magistrate on a petition alleging registration of a false case against a Jind district resident at his behest, Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar of the High Court today directed him to forward his comments within 14 days of receiving the order’s copy.

Mr Justice Nijjar also directed the Court’s Registrar (General) to inform him about the action taken on a complaint addressed by the petitioner to the Chief Justice here.

Arguing before the court, counsel for the petitioner had earlier submitted that a false case had been registered at the instance of the CJM for pressurising his client into withdrawing a recovery suit filed by him against one Rajpal Katyal, a close friend of the CJM.

Counsel had added that the petitioner was served with bailable warrants for being absent during the proceedings in a complaint case even though he kept waiting in the courtroom till 4 pm on the fixed date.

He had further claimed that a complaint had also been made to the Chief Justice of India and the court’s Chief Justice here as the petitioner was fearing that the case would be decided in Katyal’s favour. The case will now come up on May 17.

DISTRICT COURT
Shootout case: seven get bail
By Kirandeep

Chandigarh, April 16
The seven accused, including Manjit Singh Barkandi, in the district courts shootout of 1998 were granted anticipatory bail, here today, by the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Lakhbir Singh, on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 20, 000 each.

The accused had moved anticipatory bail in the court as the charge of attempt to murder had been made out in the challan produced in the local by the Chandigarh police on March 23. The accused had moved bail under section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The other six accused granted bail by the Judge, were Kanwarjit Singh, Surjit Singh, Amarjit Singh, Bagich Singh, Gurmeet Singh , Kashmir Singh. The case against the seven were registered under section 147, 148, 149, 307, 338, 353 of IPC and 25, 27, 54, 59 under Arms Act.

This is the fourth time the case has been reopened. In spite of this, the city police finally filed a challan on March 23 in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, against the 16 accused, dropping two names in the process. The Magistrate had adjourned the case for April 28.

Earlier, the city police had filed three reports in the court, citing lack of evidence whereby no charges were made out against the accused. Under the supervision of IG Chandigarh Police, the DIG, Mr Ajay Kashyap, had prepared the challan against the 16 accused following directions from the high court.

In turn, the Police Department produced challans against the 16 accused, namely Manjit Singh Barkandi, Jagjit Singh, Balkar Singh, Avtar Singh, Surjit Singh, Surat Singh, Kanwarjit Singh, Amarjit Singh, Bagicha Singh, Lakhbir Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Chhinder Singh, Harcharan Singh.

The two dropped out of challan were Sahib Singh and Davinder Singh.

The shoot out took place on July 6, 1998, when the accused, Harvinder Singh, allegedly involved in the murder of Harjit Singh, was being produced in the local court. The persons supporting the accused and the deceased were also present in the court. It was alleged that the supporters of the accused, Harvinder Singh, had fired shots at the victims’ supporters when they raised slogans against the Punjab police. The city police had arrested 18 persons from the spot and there were more than 62 eyewitness of the case.

Golden Forest case
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 16
The Judicial remand of three official of Golden Forest, Ms Pamila Syal, Neena Syal and Hritish Kumar Sinha was extended to April 23 today by the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Pushvinder Singh, in a case of cheating. The magistrate had also dismissed the discharge application moved by the Hritish Kumar Sinha.

The Managing Director of the Golden Forest, Mr R.K Syal, has already been remanded to judicial custody till April 23 by the local court.

The case against the three was registered under Sections 406, 420 and 120 of the IPC in Mani Majra police station. The complainant, Mr Raghunath had stated in the complaint that he had deposited an amount of Rs 40,000 under one of the scheme of the company. The complainant alleged that the accused had cheated him and failed to return the deposited amount to him.

Dowry case

The dowry case filed against Surjit Singh Barnala, and his other family members by her daughter in law Parveshbir Kaur today, adjourned by the UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Ashok Kumar, till May 12.

The statement of the third witness, Dr Shiwinder Kaur Johal, was recorded. The statements of two witnesses, the mother of Parveshvir Kaur and her friend have already been recorded. Parveshbir Kaur had alleged that her husband Jasjit Singh, father-in-law Surjit Singh and mother-in-law Surjit Kaur had harassed her for dowry.

The complainant had filed complaint against Surjit Singh Barnala and his other family members under Sections 406, 420, 498a of the Indian Penal Code.

CULTURE

Innovative ad campaigns
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 16
From issues close to social and economic reforms to those significant for commercial gains — the 16 advertisement campaigns were displayed under the common theme of Kala Sanchar 2001. Executed by 16 final year students of Bachelor of Fine Arts (Applied Art), the campaign ideas were laced with innovation. The first thing that catches the eye as one enters the gallery of Government College of Art is fresh stance of the students.

Two works stand out for novelty of content — Sandeep Singh’s campaign which attempts to draw a line between the perceptions of artists belonging to different ages. He chooses exponents of categories like painting, instrumental music, dance, sculpture, printmaking, etc, and goes on to converse with two artists in each category. In dance, he talks to young Rashmi Uppal on one hand and the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj on the other. Portraits, accompanied by quotes, hang side by side.

The works by Pavitra Sidhu focus on tribals. The work is imposing enough to inspire action. Then there are campaigns for products, like Kellogs by Sargam Jain; Drish shoes by Rajni Seth; and Kawasaki Babaj Calibre by Navneet Dhillon.

Planet M store is promoted by Jitender in his store campaign. The artist uses bright colours to promote the product and the service. Sumeet Inder Singh chooses his own college as the object of promotion. He designs attractive communications for the college — from invitation cards for exhibitions to posters for the department and even the prospectus.

Among other participants in the exhibition are Deepak Sandhu, Anu Nanda, Gaganinderjit Kaur, Bhavna Sharma, Paramjit Singh, Dimple Gaba and Preeti Bandish, who has come up with an ironic sketch on child labour.