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| Tuesday,
June 4, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
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PPSC scam: no one to be spared Chandigarh, June 3 Addressing mediapersons at Punjab Bhavan, he said the people were with the Congress and, faced with certain defeat, the Akalis were now finding excuses as a “face-saver.” The entire process was being monitored by the State Election Commissioner. There are 281 zila parishad and 2,484 panchayat samiti zones. Against a total of 1,117 nominations, 679 candidates are left in the zila parishad poll and out of 10,435 nominations for the samiti poll, 5,872 are contesting. So far, 25 Congress candidates and two Akalis have been elected unopposed to zila parishads. In panchayat samitis, against 211 Congress candidates seven Akalis have been elected unopposed. Capt Amarinder Singh said there were reports of several candidates, who had been elected unopposed or had withdrawn from the poll arena, having joined the Congress on their own. “I am surprised the Akalis are withdrawing from contests in some districts. If they want to run away, it is their wish’’, he added. Referring to two incidents of killing, one in Amritsar and the other in Muktsar district, Capt Amarinder Singh said these were the result of “personal enmity’’ and there were no “political’’ overtones. It was a well-known fact that factionalism was common in villages, where people were with either the Congress or the Akalis, he added. On the investigations in the PPSC job scam, the Chief Minister said action had been taken against 46 PCS officers. The rest of the list was being closely scrutinised. Anyone whose name figured in the “tainted’’ list would be proceeded against. He assured the mediapersons that there was no question of anyone being spared. The re-examination would be done by the state and no outside agency would be involved. On Mr A A Siddiqui, Additional Director-General of Police joining his parent state on his return from deputation, Capt Amarinder Singh said the government would find a suitable slot for him because an Additional Director-General of Police was already heading the Vigilance Bureau. “We will strengthen the bureau as and when required because of the heavy workload. There are already six or seven more scams.” Capt Amarinder Singh denied that the state was slowly being put under “police raj’’. If the police force was required to be doubled to fight corruption and dispense justice, the same would be done. He reiterated that the Congress government’s commitment to good governance, transparent and corruption-free administration was being pursued religiously. Soon the economic road map would be unfolded when the Budget session started on June 11. During the session the election of the Deputy Speaker would also take place. |
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Mason’s PCS son, too, gets axe Amritsar, June 3 However, in the wake of the PPSC recruitment scam, the axe fell on Dr Jaspal Singh Gill, the mason’s son who was among the 28 PCS officers whose services were terminated by the state government. The father and brothers of Dr Gill who had done his Ph.D. in literature with meagre income of his family, are still working as masons and living hand-to-mouth. The action of the state government has not only snatched the job of a brilliant student (Dr Gill had earned a name in the field of Punjabi literature and singing), but also shattered the hopes of thousands of the Maqboolpura residents as he (Dr Gill) was a source of inspiration for them. Talking to TNS, Dr Gill said that he came from a very humble family which did not have anybody in politics or a government job. As a resident of the poorest locality of Amritsar, he could ill afford to pay bribe or arrange any “sifarish”. The plight of another PCS (allied) officer, belonging to this locality of widows is equally bad. He (the officer does not want to be identified) had lost his father when he was only four years old. He was brought up by his uncle, a rickshaw puller, who is now no more. With tears in his eyes, he told this correspondent that the sword of un-certainty still hangs on his head as the state government might terminate their services in the near future. The officer is working as a tehsildar in Bathinda district. The two wonder whether there is anybody who could wipe out the stigma that they had paid hefty amounts to get into the PCS? They said they were willing to face any inquiry. |
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Jagman’s judicial remand extended Ropar, June 3 Earlier, on May 29, the bail application of Jagman Singh, now an approver in the PPSC recruitment scam, was dismissed by Mr Maghar Khan, Sessions Judge. This bail application was filed by him on April 23. Meanwhile, Mr A.S. Kathuria, Special Judge, Ropar, today extended the judicial remand of Baldev Singh, Chief Engineer, Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Department, till June 13 in a case of 103 JCB earthmover machines’ purchase scam. |
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Langah refused interim bail Ropar, June 3 The case was registered against Langah on May 16 by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the IPC and 13(1) (a) (c) (d) (e) read with Section 13 (2) 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. On June 1, the court had reserved its order for pronouncement on the anticipatory bail application of Langah till today. Meanwhile, Mr Maghar Khan, Sessions Judge, Ropar, today, granted anticipatory bail to Subhash Jain, on alleged accomplice of Sucha Singh Langah, and accused in a case registered by the Vigilance Bureau against him under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the IPC and 13 (1) (a) (c) (d) (e) and 13 (2) 88 of the PC Act-1988. The Sessions Judge stated that in the event of his (Subash) arrest, he be released on bail on his furnishing heavy surety/personal bond in the sum of Rs 1 lakh with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting officer. The Judge also directed him to join the investigation as and when required by the police. He
(Subash) has also been directed to surrender his passport, if any. |
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Judicial remand for Langah’s PA Kharar, June 3 He was arrested in connection with a case registered against Mr Langah by the Vigilance Department. Mr Baljit Singh Sahota, public prosecutor, pleaded for judicial remand. The accused was allegedly working as a tout of Mr
Langah. |
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Working of vigilance wing questioned Jalandhar, June 3 A seven-member vigilance team of the Local Bodies Department which raided the premises of the MC last Thursday and seized official record pertaining to the building branch, is still scrutinising “suppressed” legal notices. Of the 8,500 “suppressed” legal notices issued to defaulters across the state during the past five years for erecting huge buildings without getting their building plans passed and in stark violation of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, Jalandhar topped the list with 7,080 such legal notices to its credit. Sources in the department said the raid by the vigilance wing seemed to be a mere eyewash as similar raids had been conducted in the past also, but no erring official was ever chargesheeted or booked for committing irregularities during the five-year rule of the SAD-BJP alliance. Some senior officials, on condition of anonymity, have objected to the idea of entrusting the probe, in such a huge scam involving Rs 100
crores, to the department’s vigilance wing, which had “failed”to take action against erring officials of the civic body in the past, despite the fact that hundreds of complaints against alleged irregularities in the building branch and the water supply wing of the MC were still pending with it. Interestingly, complaints from the then Senior Deputy Mayor and senior Akali leader, Mr Gurcharan Singh Narula, against civic body officials pertaining to laying of water supply lines in illegal colonies, use of low quality material in construction of roads and mushrooming of hundreds of huge buildings in the city were never seriously considered by the vigilance wing. Mr Narula had also submitted proofs showing the involvement of the officials in these irregularities. The vigilance wing, conducted several raids on the MC office on the basis of these complaints as a routine exercise but never fixed responsibility on any official. This allegedly encouraged civil body officials, particularly those working in the building branch, who slap legal notices on violators, to “bargain” with them. In fact, though the management of C.T. Public School, situated in the local Maqsoodan locality, was imposed a penalty of Rs 22.5 lakh for raising a huge school building spread over 14 acres in violation of building bylaws, yet no serious effort was made either to recover the compounding fee or to demolish the illegal school building. This has resulted in the mushrooming of hundreds of illegal commercial and educational buildings all over the city. Interestingly, MC officials, in order to seek favours, had reportedly arranged a cocktail for the vigilance team on Thursday. Bottles of a popular liquor brand were seen scattered on Friday morning outside the Town Hall of the MC, where the vigilance team was scrutinising the official record. The sources said the probe into alleged violation of building bylaws should be handed over to the Vigilance Bureau of the Punjab police. |
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ETT teachers’ selection to
be probed Gurdaspur, June 3 This was stated by Mr Khushal Behl, Education Minister, in a press note issued here today. Mr Behl said the inquiry was being ordered in view of the largescale complaints received by the government about the appointments. He alleged that the Badal government had surpassed all records of corruption. The government won’t spare anybody found guilty of making appointments after taking money, he added. Mr Behl claimed that the SAD was shirking from contesting zila samiti or block samiti elections in various districts of the state. He said since most of the former Akali ministers stood exposed after Vigilance raids, they (the Akalis) were not showing courage to contest the elections. He said the Congress would emerge as the single-largest party to form the zila parishads and block samitis after the elections scheduled for June 9. |
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Varsity removes four Ahluwalia appointees Patiala, June 3 According to sources, letters were sent to Mrs Surinder Kaur, Mrs Paramjit Kaur, Mrs Inderjit Kaur and Ms Reeta Malhotra and one other teacher last evening, informing them that their services were not needed any longer. Sources alleged that intense groupism among the teachers in school, on the same pattern as is present in the university, was responsible for this move, adding that a senior functionary in the university administration was behind it. The school Principal has reportedly been told that the services of the teachers had been dispensed with due to a financial crunch. This explanation, however, seemed strange because one of the teachers, Ms Reeta Malhotra, had been appointed for a period of one year on contract of Rs 6,000 per month. They said if school had gone in for such a contract, it meant that the post was very much needed. Sources said all the teachers who had been sacked had been appointed by former Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia. They said two of them were also spouses of university teachers. Dr Kehar Singh also belonged to the group which had welcomed the appointment of Dr Ahluwalia in the
University. Earlier, Dr Ahluwalia had accommodated Mrs Surinder Kaur despite opposition that she had been retained in the university when three posts had been advertised even though she was the juniormost among the four teachers eligible to apply for them. A job in the University School has, of late, become one used to “reward loyal teachers” by successive Vice-Chancellors. Punjab School Education Board Chairman Kehar Singh, when questioned on the issue, said his wife would not be appealing against the decision of the university. |
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Vigilance asks for varsity’s nod for booking XEN Patiala, June 3 Sources said a Deputy Superintendent of the Vigilance Department had come to the university for this purpose. The sources said the request had been conveyed to acting Vice-Chancellor
N. S. Rattan at Chandigarh and that he was expected to take a decision on the matter during his visit to the university tomorrow. According to officials, the Vigilance Department has asked permission from the authorities to register cases against the varsity XEN besides Subdivisional Officer
A. S. Shergill who is presently abroad, Junior Engineer Dayal Singh and two other employees Gurdeep Singh and Jasbir Singh who are responsible for the execution of electrical and civil works. The official said the XEN was charged with submitting a bill of more than Rs 2 lakh for laying telephone wires on the varsity campus which was much more than the estimate. They said other irregularities during the hosting of the science congress had also come to the notice of the Vigilance sleuths, which were also being investigated. The former Vice-Chancellor, Dr
J.S. Puar, is already standing trial for alleged irregularities during the hosting of the science congress, including inflated bills submitted for pitching the main tent for the Congress from a Delhi party.
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Farmers threaten stir over power supply Chandigarh, June 3 “We have suffered huge losses because of low voltage and frequent disruptions in the power supply,” said Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, national general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU). Interestingly, this union shook hands with the Congress on the eve of the Assembly elections in February this year. He said that because of erratic power supply and fluctuating voltage, standing crops had wilted and suffered extensive damage. Members of the union , who met here today under the chairmanship of Mr Baldev Singh Mianpur, discussed the power supply to both the domestic and agricultural sectors. In a resolution adopted at the meeting the BKU felt that the power supply for domestic purposes in the rural areas was erratic with frequent voltage fluctuations and restricted to a few hours a day. On the other hand, the power situation in cities was “much better” with longer supply hours. This attitude of the PSEB was condemned. Similarly, the power supply to tubewells was for not more than two to three hours a day which was punctuated with frequent interruptions and low voltage. This had resulted in a huge loss to farmers with their sugarcane, vegetable, fodder and cotton crops withering away. Mr Rajewal alleged that the board was harassing consumers in the rural areas with raids in the name of checking power theft and imposing huge penalties. “We have given a call to the rural masses to unitedly and peacefully oppose these raids and gherao the raiding parties,” Mr Rajewal said hinting at a major agitation. “We are only demanding uninterrupted power supply with proper voltage. But what we are getting are huge bills, raids by flying squads, fluctuating voltage and frequent power disruptions,” he added. Mr Rajewal said that the BKU members considered the claim of the board that it was supplying power to tubewells for eight hours daily as a cruel joke on farmers. They demanded full compensation to farmers by the PSEB for the loss to their crops due to erratic power supply. The union also reiterated its demand for uninterrupted, full-voltage power supply to tubewells for 24 hours during the paddy transplant season which had just started. The BKU members also objected to the PSEB fixing the quantum of power supply to the farm sector at a meeting with
industrialists. They never took the farmers into confidence while deciding about power requirements,” he added. |
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PTU moots project to connect Punjab Jalandhar, June 3 If implemented, the project would eliminate the need for telephone lines as it would link any household with a power connection with the rest of the world with a filter at the consumer end to separate different frequencies on which power, telephony and internet signals would be transmitted. The technology, to be used for the project,” Internet and Data Communication over Electricity Power Lines,” was at an advanced stage of testing in Germany and Japan. The thrust of the project is to ensure total communication connectivity of Punjab, and opening of new horizons for people, especially, farmers of rural areas. Mr Amarjit Grewal, PTU Director (Outreach), who conceptualised the project, said if implemented, it would ensure total e-governance as every household with a power connection could be linked with a central point. “The facility would enable farmers to know weather conditions in advance, NGOs to operate from a distance, and any user to monitor his home or office even in his physical absence at the place,” added Mr Grewal. Mr Grewal said the proposed project would be first of its kind in the world and could be implemented without any investment. Since power line network was everywhere, the power line communication (PLC) could be of greater help in tackling natural calamities and other
disasters and would be able to provide jobs to about 20,000 youngsters of the state. “This would bring a revolution since it would eliminate the difference between rural and urban Punjab,” said Mr Grewal, adding that he was very optimistic about the implementation of the PTU’s “futuristic” project since during his meeting with the CM, the latter’s response was “too positive”. |
Tussle for mayor’s post intensifies Patiala, June 3 The group took the step to offset the chances of another strong candidate for the post — Mr Vishnu Sharma. Besides Mr Vishnu Sharma, there are two other prominent candidates for the post — Mr Kabir Das and Mr Sohan Lal Jalota, who are aligned with Mr K.K. Sharma. The post of Mayor is being hotly contested in the city with all major candidates holding dinners to woo the corporators at the Gymkhana Club and at other places even though a meeting of the corporators held after the election authorised Capt Amarinder Singh and his wife Preneet Kaur to select the Mayor. Sources said neither Capt Amarinder Singh nor Mrs Preneet Kaur were able to meet the group of corporators which had gathered at the New Moti Bagh Palace here yesterday. They said Mr K.K. Sharma had a 10-minute talk with Mrs Preneet Kaur on the issue and that he was assured that their wishes would be respected and no candidate would be thrusted upon them. They specifically said any candidate other than Mr Vishnu Sharma was acceptable to them. The sources said two candidates for the post of Mayor — Mr Das and Mr Jalota — had now pooled in their resources along with Mr K.K. Sharma, who had not contested the corporation poll, to ensure that Mr Vishnu Sharma did not make it to the seat. Some of the corporators said they were constrained to parade the corporators because wrong perceptions of the support of the major aspirants were being given to Capt Amarinder Singh. Sources said the final decision was likely to be a difficult one for Capt Amarinder Singh and his wife because of the two groups of corporators which have emerged. While one group is perceived to be close to the Chief Minister, the other, sources said, is personally loyal to Mrs Preneet Kaur. A lot of factors may weigh in the minds of the party high command before selecting the Mayor. The sources said keeping the Lok Sabha elections in view, the party may go in for a consensus candidate after reconsidering the view of all
corporators. |
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Gadar Party men burn Pak flag Bathinda, June 3 Anger was writ large on faces of youths who were shouting anti-Pakistan slogans. The procession started from Parasram Nagar and concluded near the AC market. Mr Jogesh Batish, president of the party, said they were ready to make any sacrifice to defeat Pakistan. The other leaders of the party also expressed the same views. They said as Pakistan was fighting a proxy war for the past many years, India should now take action. They said there was no need to talk about peace keeping in view the activities of Pakistan. |
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Independent MLA joins Congress Chandigarh, June 3 Mrs Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, General Secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said Mr Dhiman met the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh at his residence this afternoon and expressed his desire to join the party. The Chief Minister gave his nod instantly. It may be mentioned that Mr Dhiman, who contested as an Independent candidate, defeated Mr Gurcharan Singh Dirba, of the Congress and Mr Baldev Singh Mann of the SAD. Mr Dhiman was reportedly impressed by the crusade started by the Chief Minister against corruption and it motivated him to join the Congress. |
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SAD plan on courting arrest put off Chandigarh, June 3 The court-arrest programme will now be carried out immediately after the completion of the Budget session. The date will be announced later. An
announcement to this effect was made by the party general secretary and spokesperson, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, here today. He disclosed that all SAD MLAs, MPs, district presidents, members of the working committee, the Political Affairs Committee and others would “assemble at a venue” which was being kept secret for the moment because of the government’s designs to resort to illegal methods to suppress the peaceful and democratic protest. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had been clearly unnerved by the SAD decision to “counter repression through forceful democratic means”. The popular enthusiasm with which the Akali decision had been received had left the Congress in a state of nervousness. |
PCMSA protest against govt move to sack doctors Amritsar, June 3 Addressing the rally, Dr R.S. Buttar, state vice-president of the PCMSA, said the doctors would intensify their peaceful agitation if the government resorted to termination. FARIDKOT: PCMS doctors of the local Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital staged a dharna for two hours in front of the hospital on Monday in protest against the proposal of the state government to stop the NPA, besides sacking PCMS doctors selected during Mr Sidhu’s tenure. HOSHIARPUR: A deputation of PCMSA held a prolonged meeting with Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr R.C. Dogra, at the local PWD Rest House on Sunday. In a press note issued here on Monday, Dr Ajay Bagga, press secretary of the association stated that the doctors apprised Mr Dogra of the resentment prevailing among doctors over the proposed move of the government to abolish non-practicing allowance (NPA) and to terminate the services of doctors recruited during the tenure of Mr Sidhu. MANSA: Members of the PCMSA in the district and Indian Medical Association (IMA), here jointly held a meeting and organised a rally at the local Civil Hospital on Monday against the proposal move of the state government to remove PCMS doctors selected during Mr Ravi Sidhu’s tenure. MOGA: PCMS doctors in the district held protest rallies on Monday at all block-level hospitals of Dhudike, Nihalsinghwala, Droli-Bhai, Baghapurana, kot Ise Khan and the Civil Hospital here to show their resentment against the government move to terminate the services of about 800 PCMS doctors appointed during the tenure of Mr Ravi Sidhu. SAMANA: Doctors of the Civil Hospital here staged a dharna on Monday and expressed resentment against the order of Punjab Government regarding the alleged termination of services of PCMS doctors appointed during the chairmanship of Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu. The hospital functioned normally. On the occasion Dr Manjit Singh, secretary, PCMSA, Punjab, appealed to the government, that the services of these doctors should not be terminated except after a thorough inquiry. |
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Foeticide to be dealt with sternly Phagwara, June 3 Rupees 456 crore would be spent by the Punjab Health System Corporation on refurbishing of government hospitals, stated the minister. The credibility of the government health delivery system and medicare would be restored and doctors made to alter their working style, he added. While private practice would not be permitted, there was no plan to withdraw the non-practising allowance, declared Mr Dogra. At present there were 4,200 PCMS doctors and 500 medical teachers benefiting from the NPA. Dr Dogra also declared that the drug-peddlars would be dealth with sternly and erring chemists would not be spared. The present strength of drug inspectors would be raised adequately and the practice of sampling of eatables and drinks, etc. would be started, added Dr Dogra. Earlier, the local Brahman Samaj honoured Dr Dogra, Mr Rakesh Pandey, MLA, Mr Jugal Kishore, former MLA, Mr Pawan Bhardwaj. Local MLA Joginder Singh Mann, Pt Vishaw Bandu Sudhir and Girish Sharma of the samaj addressed the function. |
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Girl killed, 3 hurt in landmine blast Abohar, June 3 Sources said some children were bathing in the canal which had hardly one-and-a-half feet deep water as the supply had been curtailed by the Irrigation authorities in the area. Dhaapa caught a landmine under the water and showed it to the other
children. They thought it was a toy, but the object exploded within a few minutes, killing the innocent girl on the spot. Puran Chand (7), Heera Lal (6) and their sister Meera (7) were injured seriously. There was panic in the village over the explosion. All injured children were rushed to the district hospital at Sriganganagar, 40 km from here. Their condition was stable but Heera Lal had lost his eyesight, paramedical staff said. Army officials visited the site last night. Seven landmines, six live, were found floating in the canal, official sources said today. |
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Badal has narrow escape Faridkot, June 3 The injured — Mr Kiran Singh and Mr Bikram Singh, both from National Security Guards, and Mr Sodhi Singh, Punjab Police, were admitted to the local Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital. Mr Badal, after visiting the injured at the hospital, left for Beguwal village in Kapurthala district to attend the 53rd death anniversary of Sant Prem Singh, Head Priest of the Lubana community. Talking to this reporter, Mr Sodhi Singh said the cavalcade of Mr Badal was coming from Badal village. When it reached near Chandbaja village one of the front tyres of the pilot Gypsy burst and the vehicle overturned. The car carrying Mr Badal was immediately stopped by the alert driver. |
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Registration of SGPC voters till August 27 Chandigarh, June 3 The date has been extended on a request made by the Union Government. A statement issued by Mr Gurdev Singh said that the amendments proposed by the SGPC in the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, especially with regard to the reducing of the age of voters from 21 to 18 years and exclusion of sehajdhari Sikhs from the right to vote were under active consideration. |
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Only teachers on poll duty to attend schools Chandigarh, June 3 The order has been issued following a representation made by the Teachers Union. The union had stated that though schools had been closed since June 1 for summer vacation, but teachers had been asked to attend schools till June 9. The Union had requested that those teachers who had not been assigned any poll duty should be spared from attending schools. The commission has urged the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that those teachers, who have been put on poll duty should report for duty when called for it. As school buildings will be used for putting up polling booths, the class IV staff has been directed to keep these open till June 9. |
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Black out in city
on June 5 Bathinda, June 3 Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, said in an order issued today that during the blackout nobody would awitch on lights and the drivers would drive vehicles with lights switched off. The order said a siren would be blown to indicate the starting of blackout time. |
Farmers rush to petrol stations Bathinda, June 3 As the Union Petroleum Minister, Mr Ram Naik, announced a few days back that increase in prices of petrol and diesel was on the cards, residents of the city and rural areas were seemed trying to buy as much petrol or diesel as they could. Maximum rush was seen at the petrol stations situated on the outskirts of the city. Farmers had queued up along with their tractor-trailers and big containers at these stations. They would need a huge quantity of diesel to run their tubewells for the paddy season. Some of them had to return empty-handed as owners of some of the petrol stations refused to sell diesel. Although the increase would affect people from all walks of life, the debt-ridden farmers would have to face more difficulties as it would increase the expenses on crops manifolds. Amarjeet Singh of Poshla village who was getting diesel from a petrol station near Bhucho Mandi said as the supply of electricity was not satisfactory, they would have to store the diesel to run their tubewells. City residents were not lagging behind in storing petrol. The owners of cars and two wheelers were seen getting tanks of their vehicles filled up.  |
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Centre asked not to dismantle
MSP system Chandigarh, June 3 Capt Amarinder Singh said that the major chunk of the farmers (52 per cent) land holdings between 2 and 2½ acres. They also had meagre resources. He urged the Centre not to dismantle the minimum support price (MSP) system in the larger interest of the farmers. If the Government of India wanted to do away with the MSP, it should first give at least five years to seven years for the plan on diversification to take effect. Mr Reddy asked Punjab to submit a detailed report on this. The committee discussed issues pertaining to the agricultural economy. |
Pension scheme: 7 cases of
irregularities found Bathinda, June 3 The SAD-BJP government had launched the scheme. Although rules had been laid down for availing the benefit of the scheme, they were not implemented strictly. Investigations made by a Naib Tehsildar at Bajjoana village of Nathana block in the district has found seven such cases. Mr Harbans Singh Sekhon, naib tehsildar, has ordered the persons concerned to return the pension money for the past eight months to the government. Further investigations in the cases revealed that the benefits of the scheme were being availed of by landlords. All this was being done illegally and there was no one to check them. Further liberty was given in the distribution of pension and rules were ignored. Loopholes in the scheme helped its exploitation. As old persons usually did not have any birth certificate so it was only left to the doctor to refer the case as qualified old. Another rule was that the person or a couple having more than 3 acres could not avail of the scheme, yet people having 50 acres registered the property in the name of their sons and showed themselves as landless. The partwaris could only check the datas and figures of the areas under his jurisdiction. Moreover, all paper work was completed by the agents and they got it done by paying money to the authorities concerned. The persons found guilty are Surjit Kaur, wife of Dhanna Singh, Balwant Kaur, W/o Maghar Singh, Tej Kaur W/o Jagroop Singh, Sukhdev Kaur, W/o Gurcharan Singh, Maghar Singh, son of Kirpal Singh and Kirpal Singh, son of Gurditta Singh. These have been ordered to pay back Rs 1,600 each. |
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PSEB introduces energy audit Amritsar, June 3 Mr C.J. Rai, Chief Engineer (Border Range), while addressing newsmen claimed that by June next year all 884, 11 KVA feeders would be metered so that proper energy audit could be maintained. He said the board had taken a major initiative to introduce reforms in the transmission and distribution of power of offset the heavy losses due to power theft and other losses. He said an experiment in the Amritsar walled city, near the Golden Temple in which the PSEB monitored the supply to over 500 houses where the supply and the billing was found tallying was a good beginning. He said with the installation of these energy meters feeders would generate revenue to the extent of 8 to 9 per cent and would obviate any chance of theft. Mr Rai said the board had established customer care centres at sub division and division-level offices in the border zone. He said all complaints would be received at such centres which were be manned by senior officers to the rank of Xen and designated Mr Kalia to look after the centre at his border zone office. |
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Seats reserved for wards
of ex-servicemen Chandigarh, June 3 Revealing this, the Secretary Defence Services Welfare, Mr K.B.S. Sidhu, told TNS here today that instructions in this regard had been got issued through the Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training. This reservation would be applicable in all professional/engineering colleges, polytechnic institutions, industrial training institutes (ITIs) and technical institutes in the state, whether in the government sector or the private sector. The benefit would also extend to the widows and children of the defence personnel killed or disabled (to the extent of 50 per cent or more) in action, and the wards of the gallantry awardees. Mr Sidhu said that previously the wards of ex-servicemen and defence personnel had been clubbed with those of paramilitary and police personnel. Although the overall combined quota was 4 per cent, yet experience had shown that in the erstwhile system very few children of defence families got the benefit of the reservation. As such, a separate and exclusive class had been created in response to the demand of many welfare associations of ex-servicemen. Mr Sidhu said that the children of Army deserters in the aftermath of the Operation Bluestar were also eligible to be considered for the separate 2 per cent reservation meant for the children of 1984-riot hit families and terrorist affected families. |
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POSTINGS/ TRANSFERS Chandigarh, June 3 Police: Mr Pawan Kumar Rai will be the new SP, Jalandhar City, while Mr Amar Singh Chahal becomes Assistant Commandant, 80th
Bn, PAP, Jalandhar. |
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Minister raids AETCs offices Chandigarh, June 3 According to the Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr Suresh Kumar, the minister found 12 persons absent from duty. He ordered disciplinary action against them. The minister also checked the records and later hold a
meeting with the AETCs and ETOs and exhorted them to raise tax collections. |
Teenager booked Amritsar, June 3 Manjit Kaur of Soain Khurd in Majitha lodged a complaint at the police station alleging that Mau had tried to rape her daughter. Manjit Kaur and her husband were away from the house when the incident took place. Meanwhile, the police arrested three chain snatchers and seized four gold chains and two bicycles. They were identified as Kulbeer Singh and Mahinder Singh of Krishna Nagar and Jatinder Singh of Sundar Nagar here. In yet another case some persons stole Rs 4,500 credit cards, an ATM card and important documents of Chander Mohan of New Delhi from the Beas
dera. |
Retired teachers seek pension Nawanshahr, June 3 Mr Amar Singh, president, Privately Managed Recognised Aided Schools of Punjab Retired Staff Association, told this correspondent, they had struggled hard to get the recommendations of the Kothari Commission implemented in the state in 1967 from the then Chief Minister, Mr Lachhman Singh Gill, who implemented the recommendation about the issuance of 95 per cent grant-in-aid to privately managed schools in the state on the Delhi pattern, but did not implement the recommendation about granting the pension and gratuity benefits, through accepting it in principle. Subsequently, school teachers working in privately managed government-aided schools had to struggle hard to get pension and gratuity benefits and on February 5, 1994, the then Chief Minister, Mr Beant Singh, handed over cheques to 45 retired school teachers at a state-level educational conference held in Ludhiana. But the government under its pension-cum-gratuity scheme for teachers working in grant-in aided schools, gave the benefits to retirees on the basis of cut-of date of February 5, 1987 and deprived the teachers who had retired during the period between December 1, 1967 and February 4, 1987, of pension and gratuity benefits. Mr Amar Singh said the retired teachers who were left out then urged Mr Beant Singh to implement the pension and gratuity scheme in toto and include all teachers who had retired after the implementation of the Kothari Commission’s report in it. |
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Forum’s directive to IITT College Nawanshahr, June 3 Sukhdeep Singh, on the basis of his performance in the CET examination was sponsored by the PTU, Jalandhar, to IITT College of Engineering, Pojewal, and after necessary counselling, his admission was changed from “payment seat” to “free seat” and instead of original discipline of electronics, he was allowed admission to chemical engineering. However, upon his admission to B.Tech (Agriculture) in the PAU, Ludhiana, he surrendered his seat in the engineering college and sought the refund of the security deposit and the admission fee. The forum did not agree with the contention of the complainants that they be allowed complete refund of the fee deposited by them on the plea that there was no deficiency on the part of the institution to impart education to the complainant, who in fact, left the college on his own. However, the forum, drawing analogy from a similar case of Sumit Lekhi, who was allowed the necessary refund to the extent of difference between the “payment seat” and “free seat”, asked the Registrar of the college to make the payment to the complainant. |
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Students make mobile robot Ferozepore, June 3 Munish Gulati, one of the students involved in the project, said the circuit developed by them to control the robot had 14 systems. It was built at a cost of Rs 10,000, he added. Other students involved in the project include Rahul Malhotra, Harender Saroya, Amardeep Singh, Samarjeet Singh, Bharat Passi, Pankaj Kumar and Vikas Sharma. |
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Results of M Tech entrance test out Amritsar, June 3 |
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