COURTS

HIGH COURT
Rule relaxation not in judicial domain
Tribune News Service

Dismissing the petitions with common grievance against the Haryana Staff Selection Commission, the Judges concluded: "We find no merit in these petitions and the same are dismissed". The petitioners had contended that they were fully qualified for appointment to the posts of SS masters but were not permitted to appear for the examinations held by the commission.

SSP told to look into jail escape

In less then a year after two alleged thieves escaped from a police station after scaling the cell wall, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the High Court today ordered Ropar's Senior Superintendent of Police to examine the matter and take action.

The orders were pronounced on a petition filed by World Human Rights Protection Council seeking an independent inquiry into the alleged escape of Joginder Singh Pariyar and Anil Kumar, booked under Sections 379 and 411 of the Indian Penal Code on April 17 last year. Arguing before the court, state counsel contended that Joginder Singh Pariyar had been rearrested while Anil Kumar's whereabouts were still unknown and efforts on to nab him.

After going through the record and hearing the arguments, Mr Justice Goel ruled: "The fact remains that the question of how they escaped was a matter to be examined. Let the SSP examine the matter and take action in accordance with law". In their petition, the human rights organisation had contended that it was impossible for the accused to escape from a police station in Kharar by making a hole in the 13-inch cell wall with their bare hands.

Irrigation Secy, CE summoned

Taking up a petition filed by 56 employees seeking grant of an additional increment, along with higher standard pay scale in accordance with a policy decision, a Division Bench of the High Court on Thursday asked the Chief Engineer of Haryana Irrigation Department and the Irrigation Secretary to be present in the court along with the relevant record relating to the case.

In their petition, Mr Jagdish Lal and others had stated that they should be granted higher standard pay scale after taking into consideration the services rendered by them on a work-charged basis followed by regularisation.

DISTRICT COURTS
Fresh summons for Badal, Sukhbir
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 7
A local court today issued a fresh summons against the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and his son Sukhbir Badal, for April 16 acting on a civil suit filed by the former Additional Director of Information and Public Relations, Punjab, for recovery and attachment of property against them. The summons issued against the two by the court were received unserved.

The complainant, Mr Jagdip Singh Chawhan, had stated that in 1998 he was working as Deputy Director of the Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab at Chandigarh. He alleged that the then Chief Minister had directed him to work in the election campaign of his son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal during 1998-1999.

He further stated that as his promotion for the post of Joint Director and Additional Director, Information and Public Relations, Punjab, was overdue and thus he was under constraints to undertake the publicity campaign in the election campaign of Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was contesting from Faridkot constituency in elections held during February 1998.

Mr Chowhan alleged that he had spend about Rs 1,50,458 from his own pocket for media coverage with the hope that Mr Badal would return it. Mr Chawhan had prayed that a decree for the recovery of Rs 82, 032 should be passed in his favour and against the Chief Minister of Punjab with costs and with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum.

A local court today acquitted, Ram Swarup, a resident of Uttar Pardesh, in a case under the NDPS Act. As per the prosecution after getting a tip off the city police had arrested the accused and had recovered 20 kg of poppy husk from his possession. The police had registered a case against the accused under Section 15 of the NDPS Act on July 28, 2000.

Petition allowed in allotment case
Legal Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 7
The Screening Committee appointed by the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Chandigarh, for scrutinising the names of the eligible members of a house building cooperative society is required to act fairly and has to give opportunity of hearing before removing a person from the list for allotment of housing site.

These observations were made by Mr Justice J.L. Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana High Court while allowing the writ petition of Mr Surinder Kumar, who had sought the quashing of the order of Estate officer, Chandigarh and treating the petitioner as eligible for allotment of site as a member of the Silver Ton Cooperative House Building Society, Chandigarh. The Petitioner was enrolled as a member of the said society in 1987 and was allotted a membership number. The society applied for allotment of land and the petitioner deposited 10 per cent of the tentative price on time. He was not allowed to deposit 25 per cent of the price of the plot and was informed that his name did not figure in the list of eligible persons.

The Judge observed that the opportunity was not granted to the petitioner and that the rules of natural justice could not be put in a straitjacket. These were merely rules of fair play and were calculated to ensure that the society did not act arbitrarily. In the present case the petitioner’s right to property had been adversely affected by ex-parte action of the respondent, said the Judge.

Pepsi musical talent hunt
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7
If you ever had anything to do with rhythm, this is your brightest chance to date stardom. Pepsi today announced its first ever musical talent hunt in Punjab. To do the formal launching of the biggest ever hunt, the company had roped in music director Jaidev, who made stars of Harbhajan and Gursewak Mann.

The occasion at hotel Shivalik View was full of hype today, just as it was expected to be. Holding the fort were Jaidev, Harbhajan, apart from Pepsi officials. The first stage of Pepsi ban ja sitara yaara contest would be fascinating in that it will enable selected singers to record the debut album with T Series, which will then release and distribute the album countrywide.

As for the contest, it is open to all aspiring singers in Punjab. The entries are invited by April 10. Each entry must have recording of three songs, accompanied by any Pepsi pet label along with the name, address,, telephone number of the singer. The package is to be mailed to PO box no 39, Sector 17, Chandigarh. The shortlisted 100 best entries will get a chance to audition before the stars from the world of Punjabi music. Based on the audition results, four quarter finals will be held in the form of live concerts with Harbhajan, Gursewak, Sardool and Jassi. The winners will compete in the semi finals to be held in two different cities in the state. The final, which will witness a musical extravaganza, will decide the winner who will be declared Star-e-Punjab. He will be featured at ETC Punjabi channel.

Candidates will be shortlisted by Harbhajan Mann, Hans Raj Hans, Gursewak Mann and Sardool Sikander.