DSPs violating rules on security cover
Concerned more about themselves than residents
Ruchika M. Khanna
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
Strange are the ways of the Chandigarh police. On the one hand, the authorities cry themselves hoarse over the shortage of staff, while on the other almost all of the 10 Deputy Superintendents of Police posted here have violated all rules and regulations to have almost double the sanctioned police personnel at their disposal as guards and for domestic help.

This, in spite of the fact that the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the top brass of the city police has often advised its officers to make judicious use of the available strength of its personnel, so as to keep a check on the growing crime graph.

It is alleged that almost all of the 10 DSPs have unofficially kept a guard of 1-3 (one head constable and three constables) or 1-4 (one head constable and four constables) for themselves. Other than this, these officers are also alleged to have been drawing personnel from the Home Guards to be employed as domestic helpers in their houses.

It is alleged that other than a handful of police officers, a Superintendent of Police, one or two DSPs and Inspectors of police, who were sanctioned a guard at their residences because of a threat perception from terrorists, others have a guard merely as a status symbol.

Interestingly, these unofficial guards are drawing their salary, either from a particular police station or a unit of the city police, depending on the DSP who is availing their services. This ensures that on the paper the DSPs are availing services of only the sanctioned personnel. In case of sub divisional police officers, the guards are allegedly drawn from the patrolling staff of any of the police stations under the officer’s jurisdiction. For the DSPs posted as in charges of the other units of the city police, their guards are drawn from their respective units itself.

However, according to the Punjab Police Rules, also extended to the Union Territory, an officer of the rank of a DSP is allowed to have a driver, a gunman, and an orderly for themselves. but DSPs posted here are also availing the sanctioned strength in addition to the above mentioned unofficially drawn guards.

It may be recalled that in 1998, the then Inspector General of Police, Chandigarh, Ms Kiran Bedi, had withdrawn the unofficial guards from a large number of police officers and civil authorities. However, after her departure, the practice of unofficially drawing guards was resumed.

On the other hand, there is a strange paradox. Senior police officers in the city maintain that they are facing a shortage of staff, with the Ministry of Home Affairs not clearing the proposal for increasing the police force. This means that there is lopsided deployment of force. While in the southern sectors as well as the slum and labour colonies in and around the city have a mere four per cent and 10 per cent of the force respectively deployed there, the “elitist bias” of the city ensures that the rest of the 4,000 strong police force is deployed in the northern sectors.

Other than this, more than 10 per cent of the police force have been put on security duty of VIPs, totalling to no more than 200 persons. And this VIP security cover is not extended to the VIPs from Punjab and Haryana.

A large number of police force is also ill spent on the two to three VIP route alerts that have to be set up (mostly in the north) on an average every day. It is learnt that most of the PCR vans and motorcycles and more than 50 per cent of the Traffic police staff is deployed for the VIP route alert each day. As a result, the vans and the Traffic Police personnel are deployed only at strategic points and there is little staff left for the enforcement duty.

Professor to rejoin duty
Govt’s no to PGI request on SLP
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh , May 7
Pushed against the wall following a directive of the Union Health Minister, the PGI is in the process of issuing a formal letter asking the Additional Professor, Dr (Mrs) Sumitra Dash, to rejoin duty.

The Health Minister declined a request by the PGI to file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against a decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The case of Dr Dash will reverse a trend. So far, the PGI has been showing the door to doctors, who go on leave abroad but never return or return after years of absence. Dr Dash had proceeded on ex-India leave several years ago.

Confirming the issuance of the letter, the PGI Director, Prof S.K. Sharma, refused to comment further. He said this had been done keeping in view the High Court’s instructions allowing Dr Dash to rejoin work from April 4, this year. Though she had been permitted to join but action could still be taken against her, commented a senior faculty member.

However, sources said the case had opened a virtual ‘can of worms’. The corridors at the PGI were rife with speculations about the inability of the institution to withstand its own decisions. This decision could very well open doors for scores of former faculty members of the PGI whose services had been terminated on grounds of wilful absence from duty or having exceeded their ex-India leave

As per the rules a PGI faculty member could not proceed on an ex-India leave without the permission of the governing body. A doctor with five years of regular service could avail two years’ leave. But as a senior faculty member commented, most tended to stay back leaving the institution with no other option but terminate their services.

A former PGI Director, Prof B.N.S. Walia, admitted that keeping in view the high court’s order, the PGI had no other option. However, services of many doctors had been terminated when they had proceeded on a special leave and overstayed. Despite repeated communications urging them to come back they continued to stay abroad and made money, he said while adding that the decision, might act as a precedent and encourage people to be more belligerent.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on April 4 last, had allowed the writ petition filed by Dr Sumitra Dash, Additional Professor in the Department of Haematology, who had sought permission to rejoin the institution on her return from an ex-India leave.

Delivering the judgement, a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice K.S. Kumaran and Mr Justice N.K. Sood, allowed Dr Sumitra Dash to rejoin duty. Dr Dash had filed the petition before the high court last year, challenging the action of the PGI in declining permission to rejoin the institution. She had alleged that termination of her services without holding any inquiry was illegal.

The PGI, on its behalf, had contended that no disciplinary proceedings on account of overstay beyond sanctioned leave could be initiated against Dr Dash in view of stay of disciplinary petition filed by her where she had challenged the appointment of Dr Gurjeevan Grewal as Professor in the PGI’s Haematology Department.

Faculty members opined that case of Dr Sumitra Dash could have been a little different from the other cases as she had already filed a case against promotion of Dr Grewal and then proceeded on leave. They also added that the PGI, on its part, did not fight the case well and that it might open doors for many people who had been asked to resign in the past.

Sources said the PGI authorities had lapsed administratively as well as legally. Administratively it was wrong for the Health Minister to interfere in a matter asking the PGI not to file a SLP in the Supreme Court without understanding the merits of a purely legal case. Moreover, they stressed that PGI director should have gone to the court without waiting for directions from the ministry .

All set for privatisation of sanitation
Work to begin on May 10
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, May 7
All is set for the privatisation of sanitation work in the town with the approval of tenders by the Municipal Council today.

The agreement on the work will be executed tomorrow in accordance with the terms and conditions laid down by the civic body and the private contractors will begin their work on May 10.

It is reported that 20 parties responded to the tender notice of the council for the one-year contract but only 10 were found eligible. The 10 contractors will be assigned different areas for cleaning of roads, kerb channels, streets, parks, open spaces and daily lifting of garbage. The parties concerned had quoted rates slightly lower than the estimated cost fixed by the council.

The council has decided to keep the Industrial Area (Phases 1 to IX) under it for sanitation purposes. The private contractors will cover only the residential and market areas.

The Executive Officer, Mr Har Bhagwan Garg, said the contractors’ men would have to carry an identity card with them. If any worker was found working without his identity card, a fine of Rs 100 would be imposed. He said if the sanitation work of any contractor was not found satisfactory, the council would impose a penalty amounting to 10 per cent of the contract amount.

Mr Garg said in Nangal town also, from where he had recently been transferred here, the sanitation work was divided between the council and the private parties. The system had proved to be satisfactory there.

Mr Kulwant Singh, President of the council, said there was a shortage of safai sewaks in the town, which was gradually expanding. The sanitation work had suffered and its privatisation was the only way out.

He said some of the contractors would be using their own machinery, while the others wanted to use that owned by the council. However, at the time of making payments the council would go in for the necessary deductions for use of its machinery.

Last year the council had assigned residential Phases 1, VI, VII, IX, X and XI, Shahi Majra and Mohali villages and parts of the Industrial Area to private parties for sanitation purposes for a period of eight months which ended on March 31.

Mr Rajender Sharma, councillor from Phase VI, and Mrs Indu Sehgal, councillor from Phase 1, said privatisation of sanitation work in their wards last year gave positive results. The areas were cleaner and the private contractors’ men were available on call.

A date with Yuveraj, Molika
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, May 7
Stars of tomorrow — cricketer Yuveraj Singh and Molika of Panchkula, who has recently signed a Hindi movie ‘Meetha Meetha Ishq Piya Ka’ — converged at the skating rink of Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, Panchkula.

Their visit at the rink was a pleasant surprise for the young skaters who tried to have a glimpse of them. Both, former skaters of repute, preferred to flex their muscles with ‘action on wheels than to remain outside the rink.

Ms Rajni Thareja welcomed them and said it will be nice on their part if they could daily come for skating whenever they were free from their hectic schedule.

Yuveraj Singh, who was accompanied by his mother and younger brother, said he felt relaxed while doing skating as it was a very absorbing sport. He also obliged his fans with autographs. Yuveraj said it was Balwinder Singh Johal, skating coach, who taught him lessons in skating.

Molika was a bit hesitant in entering skating rink as now it was almost two years back, when she quitted skating. She was accompanied by her mother. She said it was her best friend Priyanka, an international skater and student of this school, who used to bring her to rink and helped her in getting worthwhile experience. Molika’s real name was Rhea. Her name was changed by the producer of the film. She had just appeared for her Class X examinations from Sacred Heart School, Sector 26. She had all praise for the school by saying, “Hats off to school principal for providing an atmosphere of all round development”. She said skating helped her in building endurance and stamina which will help her in doing retakes during her forthcoming shooting schedule which was going to begin in July. 

Staff embezzle Rs 26 lakh from bank; 4 booked
Our Correspondent

Lalru (Patiala), May 7
In an alleged case of embezzlement of Rs 26 lakh the police has booked four employees of the Central Cooperative Bank, including three branch managers and a gunman.

The employees have been booked on a complaint of the Managing Director of the Central Cooperative Society, Patiala. A case under Sections 420, 406, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the alleged accused - Tarsem Chand, Sunehari Lal, Jaspal Singh and Narinder Kumar - at the Lalru police station.

The forgery came to light when an audit team conducted the audit of the accounts of the bank recently. The team could not tally records for a sum of over 16 lakh.

Sources said that Narinder Kumar, prime accused, who was working as a gunman, used to deposit money belonging to the Central Cooperative Bank in its account in the State Bank of Patiala for a long time. He was allegedly withdrawing money from the bank account on fake signs of the depositors. This happened from September 2000 to March 31, 2001.

Interestingly, despite being a gunman he was given the job to maintain the balance sheet, cash book and day book for a long time, sources said.

Another conwoman cheats public of 45 lakh
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 7
Close on the heels of an absconding conwoman who has disappeared with nearly Rs 1 crore of public money, another case of fraud in money-lending has been discovered.

A Sector 21 resident, who has ‘borrowed’ Rs 45 lakh from local residents, came to light after she refused to return the amount to one of the lenders, Ms Krishna Sahni, a widow residing in Sector 2, and even threatening her if she moved court.

In her complaint, Mrs Sahni added that in return for cash, the woman handed her two post-dated cheques which bounced. The woman later came to Mrs Sahni’s house with her husband to threaten her of dire consequences if she took action against them.

The Mahila Morcha of the BJP registered a complaint against the accused at the Sector 2 police post and the couple was handed over to the police.

Till death do us apart
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh May 7
Till death do us apart. A local couple has taken this vow rather seriously, when they tried to kill each other after a verbal duel.

A couple, residing in Ram Darbar, Phase I, tried to immolate each other yesterday. The husband, Jaiveer, has received 35 per cent burns, while his better half has received 80 percent burns. The police has registered a cross case against the two under Sections 307 of the IPC on the charge of attempt to murder.

According to the information available from the police, the couple were having estranged relations for the past couple of months. However, the situation reached a flash point yesterday when a verbal duel between the couple took a more serious overtone and they tried to burn each other.

It is learnt that in a fit of rage, the wife, Bobby, threw a can of kerosene on her husband, who retaliated by throwing the same on her. By this time, both of them were doused in kerosene. However, Bobby caught hold of the burning stove lying nearby and hurled it at her husband.

Even as Jaiveer was caught in the flames, he too threw the stove at Bobby and she too was engulfed in flames. Later, on seeing the flames emanating from their hutment, the neighbours called for a fire tender and after the fire was brought under control, the couple was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.

COMMUNITY

Cong leaders demand Dhawan’s expulsion
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
The internecine war within the Congress reached a flashpoint today with certain senior leaders demanding the expulsion of another senior party leader, Mr Harmohan Dhawan, and his supporters for ‘anti-party’ activities.

Urging the party high command to take appropriate disciplinary action against Mr Dhawan, particularly in the wake of yesterday’s gherao of the houses of the Mayor and the Senior Deputy Mayor by Mr Dhawan and his supporters under the banner of the Chandigarh Vikas Manch, the leaders said it amounted to ‘anti-party’ activities. The recent statements of Mr Dhawan amply proved his intentions to denigrate the Congress and sabotage its activities and programmes, they added.

So far the party had been overlooking all anti-party activities of Mr Dhawan aimed at promoting himself at the cost of the party. But yesterday’s act to gherao the Mayor and the Senior Deputy Mayor and issuance of pamphlets urging the people to boycott party candidates in the coming elections to the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) was clearly intended to harm the Congress and which was not acceptable to the rank and file of the party, they added

Similarly, the political ambitions of the manch became evident when it exempted the councillors belonging to SAD and the lone Sikh BJP councillor and Ms Satinder Dhawan from the gherao schedule, alleged Mr Subhash Chawla, a TCC member.

Another TCC member and INTUC chief, Mr Ram Pal Sharma, recalled that after Mr Dhawan joined the party, the entire party supported Ms Dhawan for the post of the Mayor and Mr Kuldeep Singh Kajheri for post of Chairman of the Zila Parishad. In the party organisation elections, the Dhawan faction was given more seats at the cost of sincere and committed workers. But Mr Dhawan had failed to reciprocate these gestures of the party, Mr Sharma regretted.

Prominent among those present were Mr Gurcharan Dass Kala, Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Amar Nath Sarhadi and Ms Kamlesh, both AICC members, Mr Surinder Bhatia, Mr Parampal Matharoo, Mr Sunil Parti, Mr Kulbushan Gupta, Ms Shreshta Mehta, Mr Dharamveer Manchanda and Mr Mohammad Khalid, all TCC members. Besides, Mr HS Lucky, Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri and Mr Bimal Chandan Bitta, were also present.

Meanwhile, Mr L.P. Sahi, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) of the AICC, today visited the city to assess the performance of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) in exposing the Central Government on the tehelka.com issue.

The CTCC chief, Mr B.B. Bahl, showed the progress in the second phase of the tehelka.com.

Several intellectuals, businessmen and government officials from different walks of life signed the protest letter on the fourth day of the campaign, a press note said.

FENG SHUI TIPS
Sleeping position

Bedrooms in a house are a place of Yin. This is a room where people look for complete comfort and rest. Some people suffer from sleeplessness while others feel stressed and tired when they wake up in the morning. This is due to their wrong sleeping position.

There are certain basic guidelines everybody should follow while placing the bed. One should never sleep in a position where one’s feet face the door. This is considered very unlucky and may be the cause of health problems. The bed should not be located under an exposed overhead beam or an exposed apex of rooflines.

Actually, when a person sleeps under something heavy and hostile, it presses down on his health. This may even be the cause of low resistance and high susceptibility to diseases.

As far as sleeping directions are concerned, they are different for each individual. These directions are calculated on the basis of one’s own date of birth.

Harshna

Address your Feng Shui queries to:

E-mail: fengshui@tribuneindia.com 
Postal address: C/o F.S. TIPS, The Tribune, Sector-29, Chandigarh-160020.

BJP councillors call on Adviser
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
Certain BJP councillors who met the Adviser to the UT Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, today urged her to conduct an inquiry into the alleged reports of certain local politicians taking money to allow setting up of unauthorised jhuggis in the area near Kabari Market Colony, Industrial Area (Phase-I) after they were gutted in a major fire a month back. As many as 220 jhuggis were razed to the ground during the anti-encroachment drive on Saturday.

Led by BJP party President Dharam Pal Gupta, the councillors said that those found guilty should be brought to book and punished. They expressed resentment against the demolition of the jhuggis of certain old dwellers of the area who have temporarily put up in the Community Centre, Industrial Area, and will soon be rehabilitated in Milk Colony, Dhanas.

They also opposed the registration of an FIR against area councillor, Mr Rajender Kumar, and sought that the same should be taken back. They pointed out that area councillor happens to be the representative of the people and in that capacity he was required to be present there. Hence, the FIR registered against him was baseless and should be withdrawn.

The Adviser reportedly assured them that she would look into the matter. It may be recalled that the police had registered a case of rioting under Sections 147, 149, 332 and 353 of the IPC against Mr Rajender Kumar and a few others.

70 women attend training programme
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
As many as 70 women participants attended a training programme on “Organising thrift and credit societies and development of woman and children in urban area (DWCUA) groups”, organised by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh in association with human settlement management institute, New Delhi.

The programme, organised under centrally sponsored scheme Swaran Jayanti Shahiri Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY), was for the benefit of office-bearers of the community development societies who work in various colonies of the city for the betterment of women and children.

While addressing the participants, the Assistant Commissioner-I, Mr Ashok Vashishta, urged the participants to take up the economic ventures for increasing family income. He also informed them that a subsidy of 50 per cent of the project cost up to Rs 2.5 lakh was admissible for every project pertaining to DWCUA groups.

Muslim panels to protest today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
The Muslim organisations of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh will organise a rally outside the office of the Punjab Wakf Board at Ambala cantonment tomorrow in protest against the alleged anti-Muslim activities of the board.

According to a press note issued by the Punjab State Muslim Welfare Association, the rally is being organised to get the title deeds of the Muslim graveyards cancelled and get sufficient funds for the completion of the mosques and their repairs.

The reported refusal of the board to give adequate funds to the Islamia schools will also be highlighted at the rally.

Para-dropping demonstrated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
As part of the ongoing Operation Poorna Vijay paratroopers demonstrated the techniques involved in the free fall of paratroopers in the N-Area at the Air Force Station here today.

Briefing reporters, Col A.K. Srivastava, Air-Borne Forces Commander, said the task involved para-dropping of about 600 paratroops in a visualised area of operation. The operation would be preceded by high-altitude high opening parachute drop by the elite free-fall team comprising hand-picked personnel of all arms.

The para-drop also envisaged delivery of a large number of heavy loads by parachutes which included BMPs, artillery guns and vehicles to help the air-borne forces in the accomplishment of their task, he added.

MC’s formation: rights panel to hold fast
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 7
The local unit of the All-India Human Rights Watch has decided to intensify its stir against the formation of a municipal council in the city by announcing a 30-hour fast, here today.

Dissatisfied with the announcement of a council, the general secretary, Mr Hemant Kinger, said that either the government should roll back its decision about the council or give capital status to the city, allocating Rs 60 crore for the next 30 years for maintenance purposes.

Mr Kinger appealed to the Chief Minister to address the grievances of the residents or they would be forced to take to the streets to oppose the council.

Meanwhile, the Joint Forum, All Welfare Bodies and Associations, Panchkula, has demanded from the administration to fill the nominated quota of councilors in the municipal council from prominent persons from all walks of life and to give public say in matters of policy decisions.

Sacked union leader ‘not reinstated’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
The PGI Employees Union in a press release today asked the PGI authorities to clarify the status on the reinstatement of its General Secretary, Mr Ashwini Munjal.

Mr Munjal was dismissed on April 23 by the PGI authorities. However, following intervention by the Health Minister in his capacity as President of the institute, his dismissal was subsequently stayed on April 26.

However, the union claims that the PGI Director has not implemented the Health Minister’s orders and reinstated the dismissed union leader till date.

BJP chief visits city today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
The BJP President, Mr K. Jana Krishnamurthi, will arrive here tomorrow. During his stay, Mr Krishnamurthi will perform the bhoomi poojan of the Punjab BJP Headquarters in Sector 37. After addressing a press conference at Himachal Bhavan, Sector 28, he will address a rally in Sector 37, according to a press note.

Probe choking of drains: society
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, May 7
The House Owners Welfare Society, Phase V, has demanded an inquiry into the reasons for the choking of sewers and storm water drains in the area.

Mr Albel Singh Shyan, General Secretary of the society, said today that the Public Health Department took no notice of the complaints made by the residents in this regard. He said the residents were regularly paying the sewerage cess but the money was being used elsewhere instead of being used for clearing the choked lines.

He further said that some of the road gullies had been given no outlet, while in other cases the connection had been provided into the sewer pipes instead of being connected to storm water drainage.

CRIME

Burglary in Sec 33 house : jewellery worth lakhs stolen
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
Jewellery worth lakhs of rupees and some cash were stolen from a Sector 33 house of Mr. Maninder Singh while the family was away for two days.

According to an FIR registered under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC, the complainant had alleged that gold and diamond jewellery and Rs. 50,000 cash were stolen from his house between May 5 and May 6, while he and his family was out of station. He stated that the miscreants had broken the locks of his house.

One Assaulted
Jaswinder Singh was reportedly assaulted and threatened by Jaspal Singh, Mohinder Singh and three other persons last evening. Both the accused have been arrested and booked under Sections 147, 148, 149, 324 and 506 of the IPC.

Liquor Seized
The Sector 11 police has arrested Ashok Kumar and seized 33 pouches of Hero Whisky from his possession. A case under Section 61, 1 and 14 of the IPC has been registered.

Four Injured
Lala, a cyclist, was hit by a Maruti car ( DAV- 3089) late last night near the Railway Light Point. He was injured and admitted to the PGI, while the car driver fled away leaving the vehicle behind. A pedestrian, Om Prakash, was hit by a white car at the Sector 22 and 23 dividing road near Kisan Bhavan.

An unknown pedestrian was hit by a bus near the Sector 22 and 23 Light Point. Another resident of Khuda Lahora was injured when his car overturned near the PGI today.

Paramour set on fire
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
A youth is reported to have made an attempt on the life of his beloved following a row between them over the latter asking for money.

Rakesh, alias Gori, a leader of Kumhar Colony, Sector 25, has been arrested by the police and booked under Section 307 of the IPC. He has been accused of immolating his married lover when the latter asked for money to celebrate her four-year-old daughter’s birthday tomorrow.

The victim, 26-year-old Asha, sustained 100 per cent burns and is fighting for her life in the PGI. Her husband, Balram Singh, a BSF personnel, is posted elsewhere. They had been married for the past six years. She was staying in Dadu Majra village with her daughter.

According to the police, Asha had been having an illicit relation with the accused, Rakesh, for the past two years. However, Rakesh got married on April 26 and their relationship was getting strained after his marriage.

It is learnt that today when the accused went to Asha’s house, she asked for money. They had an altercation and Rakesh immolated Asha by pouring kerosene over her. It is learnt that her condition is very serious.