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More powers for grassroots bodies
Punjab finance panel to present report today
Chandigarh, February 14
The Second Punjab Finance Commission will present its report to the Governor here tomorrow. The report relates to the devolution of powers, administrative and financial, to the panchayats and the local bodies as per the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. As many as 29 functions are to be entrusted to the panchayats alone as per the 73rd Amendment.

SGPC poll: 2.7 lakh registered as voters
Chandigarh, February 14
More than 2.7 lakh persons, including about 50,000 Sehajdhari Sikhs, had registered in 17 districts in Haryana as voters till January 31 for the SGPC elections which may be crucial for the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who may be defeated in the Assembly poll in Punjab if exit polls are to be believed.

HC notice to Punjab on free power
Chandigarh, February 14
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion for April 8 to the state of Punjab and other respondents on a petition for quashing a commercial circular granting free electricity for domestic purposes upto 50 units per month to the members of the Scheduled Caste.

Cong hand alleged in poll agent’s murder
Amritsar, February 14
Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, a former Congress MP, and Mr Virsa Singh Valtoha, a senior Akali leader, have alleged that Congress workers were involved in the murder of a poll agent in Valtoha constituency last evening.

SAD men protest against criminal case
Ballianwali (Bathinda), February 14
Hundreds of workers of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) led by chairman, Milkfed Punjab and party candidate from Joga Assembly segment, Mr Jagdeep Singh Nakai today staged a dharna in front of local police station to press the district police authorities to cancel the criminal case registered against his (Mr Nakai) close kin of Mr Himmat Singh and others allegedly under pressure from his (Mr Nakai’s) opponents.

Dharna to protest against MLA’s beating
Patiala, February 14
A few thousand agitated people today staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here to protest against the alleged beating up of present legislator and Panthic Morcha candidate from Samana constituency Jagtar Singh Rajla by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Samana township yesterday.

POLITICS

Ban exit poll: Tandon
Chandigarh, February 14
The Punjab Minister of Local Bodies, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, today said the Election Commission must evolve a system whereby opinion polls were regulated and exit polls banned.

Morcha candidate demands repoll
Sangrur, February 14
Baba Tek Singh Dhanaula, Panthic Morcha candidate from the Dhanaula Assembly constituency and district president of the SHSAD, today demanded from the Election Commission to order repolling at Ratoke village polling booth (near Longowal) in his constituency because a large number of voters could not cast votes after the stoppage of polling at 3.00 p.m. at the booth, yesterday.

COMMUNITY

Steps to combat female foeticide
Jalandhar, February 14
The state Health and Family Welfare Department has evolved a comprehensive strategy for strict monitoring of the functioning of ultrasonography centres and genetic clinics in the state to combat the menace of female foeticide.

SGPC flays attack on gurdwara staff
Baba Bakala (Amritsar), February 14
The SGPC President, Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, has taken serious note of the attack on employees of the local Guru Teg Bahadur gurdwara.

Residents seek arrest of Gora, others
Gidderbaha, February 14
Uneasy calm prevails in this home town of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, after the residents witnessed unprecedented violence yesterday afternoon when the polling for General Assembly elections was going on.

Morcha workers stone DSP’s house
Samana, February 14
About 70 per cent shops here remained closed today in protest against the alleged beating up of Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla, sitting MLA and candidate of the Panthic Morcha, by the local DSP near Daya Nand Model School yesterday. Thousands of supporters of Mr Rajla held demonstrations in different bazars and allegedly stoned the DSP’s house.

 

Poll duty leaves women numb Phagwara, February 14 Election duty left them numb and sore. They were deprived not only of voting rights but had to dole out substantial sums of money from their pockets. And above all, they were deployed at polling booths far off from the booths where their spouses were on duty.

Shops’ rents lowered
Gurdaspur, February 14
Misappropriation of rent of shops in Zila Parishad Market has come to light. Owners of shops numbering from eight to 15 in a complaint faxed to the Chief Minister, Governor and Director Rural Development and Panchayats of Punjab has to requested for a probe by an independent authority.

78 pc voter turnout in Jalalabad
Jalalabad, February 14
This border constituency witnessed a record turnout with over 78.3 per cent of the voters exercising their franchise. Out of 1,50,587 registered voters, 1,17,878 voters polled their votes at 188 polling booths.

ADMINISTRATION

SC stays recovery of IT from PUDA
Chandigarh, February 14
On a special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA), a Division Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Mr Justice Syed Shah Mohammed Quadri, and Mr Justice S.N. Variava stayed the recovery of income tax against the authority.

Take action against MC official: DC
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 14
Mr Vikas Pratap, Deputy Commissioner, has written to the Principal Secretary, Local Government, and the Election Commission to take suitable action against an Executive Officer of the Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib, Municipal Council as he was allegedly found guilty of violating the model code of conduct during the elections.