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September 5, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Centre committed to set
up judicial panel: Jana Chandigarh, September 4 Inaugurating Haryana Advocate General’s office building in the Punjab and Haryana High Court premises, the Union Minister added that the commission would comprise members of both judiciary and executive and would be presided over by a constitutional authority. “We will be approaching political parties and Bar Councils all over the country for reaching consenses”, he asserted. Regarding the shortage of judges in the High Court here, the Minister insisted that the review of the strength was being undertaken by the Law Ministry. “The entire exercise was being done keeping in mind the pendency of cases, increasing workload and the recommendations of the Chief Justices of the High Courts. The process was likely to be completed within two or three months,” he maintained. Responding to a request by Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala for setting up a law college near Delhi for which land would be willingly provided, the Minister said the government was considering the setting up of an institute in the northern part of the country on the lines of Bangalore’s National Law School. He also asked the Chief Minister to forward the request in writing and the same would be considered expeditiously. Stressing upon the importance of information technology, the minister asserted that government was in favour of introducing IT in the entire judicial system in the country for speeding up the disposal of cases and giving greater accessibility to the common man. “Even in the trial courts, we plan to introduce voice recorders to maintain record of proceedings,” he claimed. “Moreover, copies
of Giving details, he asserted that IT had been introduced in High Courts at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata to enhance efficiency in justice delivery system and the government was endeavouring to introduce it at district levels. He also appreciated the move to computerise Haryana AG’s office. Soon after Union Law Minister K. Jana Krisnamurthy addressed the gathering at the
High Court premises, a delegation of Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association handed over a memorandum to him seeking the transfer of all local judges. The delegation, comprising President Hawa Singh Hooda, Vice-President Sukhjinder Singh Behl and Secretary Sanjeev Man Rai, besides other members, also invited him to visit the Bar Association whenever convenient. The Minister reportedly assured the delegation that he would visit the Association in October this year. |
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No pact should be signed with Pak:
Malik
Chandigarh, September 4 Both were part of a well-debated seminar on “ Security Challenges of India in Regional Context with special reference to terrorism — prognosis and responses,” at the Command Hospital, Chandi Mandir, near here today. Organised by the United Service Institution of India (USI), the seminar was the first foray outside New Delhi for the USI. Several retired and serving defence personnel and serving and retired bureaucrats attended the seminar. General Jacob, who inaugurated the day-long seminar this morning, stressed upon the importance of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean to our sea lanes and economic survival. The General, known for his straight talking, went on to add: “As of today Pakistan continues in waging a proxy war in Jammu & Kashmir and through its ISI, fostering terrorism and insurgency in the north East.” There must be the will to face terrorism and insurgency squarely and firmly in the early stages before they gain momentum. Encouragement of factions within these movements for short-term gains should be avoided, General
Within the country, General Jacob said, there had been a dangerous revival of religious fundamentalism in the country. Extremist groups are fanning communalism. Large sums of foreign money from the Middle East, Pakistan and some western countries had been sent to various dubious organisations particularly some of the madrasas. Terrorism and insurgency, he said, were not a modern phenomenon. Ancient campaigns never entirely lacked a political consideration except those that were launched in the interest of the booty. In the global context terrorism and insurgency had evolved into instruments to achieve specific fundamentalist and political goals. General Malik said the idea should be to develop infrastructure along the border with China. Any Army-backed government in Pakistan will continue to perpetuate cross-border terrorism. Indian policy should be to revive the polity in Pakistan and minimise the role of the Army. Talking about the need to have a defence policy, General Malik said no one in India knows our defence policy. It should be regularly updated. Several written drafts have been lying pending with the government but none were approved. Written policies make people accountable and, maybe, the government does not want accountability, the former Chief of Army staff added. India needs a pro-active policy. Without this a Kargil-type situation can occur anytime. If we keep on having a policy of reactions, someone can sieze the initiative. At the end of the first session a lively debate ensued in which retired defence personnel raised questions. General Malik explained the gains achieved by not going across the LoC. The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lieut Gen S.S. Mehta, said the morale of the armed forces at the border had not slackened. ‘‘We are not tired,’’ he asserted. In India there was a shortage of research on strategic affairs, General Mehta said, while adding that the USI needs to do something in this regard. |
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Install
security gadgets, businessmen told Chandigarh, September 4 The shopkeepers and businessmen were advised to install security gadgets in their establishments. The businessmen were advised to remain careful after withdrawing cash from banks. It must be mentioned here that a large number of cases of theft of money from vehicles have been reported. While launching the scheme, the UT IGP, Mr B.S. Bassi, said the police alone cannot proved 100 per cent security and participation of people was required. He suggested the shopkeepers of the area to install lamp posts to increase the visibility during night in the area. He also announced that the Chandigarh police would write to the UT Administration to allow the market associations to install lamp posts in their respective areas. He also advised people to surround their localities by boundary walls and railing. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Parag Jain, SSP, asked for people participation to prevent crime. He also asked the businessmen to paint their residence address and phone numbers on shutter of their establishments so that they could be contacted when their establishments are closed. On the occasion, security gadgets were put on display. The market association installed fire extinguisher at a common place in the market so that it could come handy in case of fire. The association also took an initiative to improve the market’s parking lot by earmarking space for different vehicles and also has provided with two parking attendants. Among others who present on the occasion were Mr Balbir Singh, SP (Security and Traffic), Mr S.C Sagar, DSP (South), Mr Balraj Singh, Deputy Mayor, Ms Kamla Sharma, councillor, and members of the Market Welfare Association, Sector 37. About a year ago, the police had launched the Residential Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and the scheme is currently in place in eight residential areas of the city. Meanwhile, the police has identified 1,000 senior citizens who are living alone. The police has planned to install alarm bell switches in their houses so that they could ‘‘alarm’’ their neighbours in case of emergency. Explaining the scheme, Mr. Jain said: ‘‘Electric alarm bell switches will be installed in houses of senior citizens living alone and the bell will be installed in the house of their respective
neighbour. In case of emergency, they will press the switch and their neighbour will be alerted’’. In a noble gesture, Mr Rohit Sood, president of the association,
handed over 10 remote control bells to the Sector 39 Station House Officer, Mr K.I.P. Singh, so that it could be installed in residences of senior citizens. Mr Sood also promised to install the bells and provide maintenance of the bells. Police personnel of different police stations today visited houses of senior citizens in their respective areas and distributed pamphlets advising them about methods to enhance their security and prevent crimes like theft and burglary. The pamphlets also contained important telephone numbers of the Chandigarh police. |
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TEACHERS’ DAY Chandigarh, September 4 Principal Khushinder Sharma of GMSSS-35 attributes her award to investing time in her students and getting to the root of their problems.”I don’t believe in being strict. My effort has been in the direction of promoting interaction between the school and parents and students. I have inculcated in them a feeling that it is their school and they have to make sure it goes higher and higher still,” she said. Eight trophies in the past five years are no mean achievement for a school especially when one man is single-handedly managing the show behind the scenes. Mr Labh Singh, PTI, GGSSS-8, did just that and his efforts have finally borne fruit. “We have other awards to our credit as well. This has come as recognition for the work I have put in,” he says. Taking the award in her stride, Ms Vandana Aggarwal, lecturer of Biology in GMSSS-16, claims,”So many people apply for the award and some get it. I applied because I had that extra bit which set me above the rest. In addition to teaching, I have been preparing students of my school for extra-curricular activities. Widely travelled, I have done a number of courses in self-growth, human relationships and stress management. I have applied all these techniques to on my students and it has done wonders. The award comes my way for this reason alone.” A lecturer in English at GMSSS-33, Ms Jasmine Preet, has been nominated for the award.”It brought with it a lot of satisfaction, a feeling that my students adulate me and are appreciative of all the time I spend to make them better.” Unconditional work and perseverance came handy for Ms Ravneet Chawla, a Home Science mistress in GGSSS-18.”This was coupled with the cent per cent results I have been giving year after year. Infact, I was expecting to get the award when I put in my application,”she added. Her artistic skills won Ms Harveen Kaushal, Fine arts mistress at GMHS-44, the state award.”I have got the award only for the sheer professionalism I have shown over the years in handling my assignments,” she informs. Three others were awarded commendations. These include Principal Shiv Kumar of GMSSS-23, Ms Neeta Sekhon, a lecturer at GMSSS-16 and Mr R.C. Saini of GMSSS-35. |
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yield to bus operators’ demand Chandigarh, September 4 The schools agreed to giving five-year contracts to the bus operators which would be renewable every year subject to the production of a road-worthiness certificate by the contractors. The president of the School Bus Operators Union, Mr Manjit Singh, said they had personally gone to convince the principals that signing the contract for a term of five years would not harm them in any way but benefit the contractors, who would be saved the trouble of securing bus permits each year. "They were open to our suggestion and agreed to sign the contracts. The Secretary of the State Transport Authority, Mr S.P. Arora, was particularly helpful and the school principals, too, understood our genuine demands," he added. It may be recalled that a few schools had not signed contracts with bus operators and all dealings for transport were between the parents and drivers. However, the accident of a school bus triggered the need for signing of such contracts and the schools finally agreed. |
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P.N. Haksar memorial seminar organised Chandigarh, September 4 This was revealed here today by the former Union Planning Secretary, Mr Anand Sarup, while speaking at a seminar My interaction with P.N. Haksar (then Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission) as part of the P.N. Haksar memorial seminar and discussion series. Eminent journalist Subrat Banerjee chaired today’s session organised by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID). The CRRID Director, Mr Rashpal Malhotra, and its Vice-Chairman, Professor R.P. Bambah, participated in the seminar-cum discussion along with a number of academicians and bureaucrats. Mr Sarup was associated with the commission when Haryana refused to present the plan. He said West Bengal was also in the company of Haryana in not presenting the plan but it was persuaded to do so later on. Analysing the ‘’failure’’ of the planning process, he said it lacked a participative approach. Mr Sarup said the experiment of strengthening state planning took off from Uttar Pradesh and was meant to go down to the level of smallest government unit of panchayats. The Uttar Pradesh Board had eminent persons like Prof Yogender Alag, Prof A.M. Khusro, Mr Laxmi Jain, Mr Darshan Bhalla and Mr Raja Chelliah as members. Mr Sarup termed the late Haksar as a great visionary and go-getter attempting a paradigm shift, but Prof D.R. Gadgil was the man involved in the nitty gritty of planning. He said there was a need for evolving a ‘’perspective planning’’ with the involvement of the Indian Council of Social Research. Mr Sarup lamented the state had let go the authority to guide economy for achieving social and political goals and has left it to private interests, reaffirming that planning was still required but with a different model. Chairing the session, Mr Banerjee said: ‘’Crisis of management and failure to weave social relations by political system and ideological constraints at the grassroot level resulted in the failure of planning efforts in to achieving targets.’’ The Special Secretary (Planning), Punjab, Mr H.I.S. Garewal, said the Punjab State Planning Board had not met for eight years. |
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BJP for rail connectivity with Bihar, UP Chandigarh, September 3 The two BJP leaders thanked the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Railway Minister for improving railway facilities in the city. |
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Plea to control deficit financing Chandigarh, September 4 At a meeting of the council held here with Ms Monica Bibbly Sood in the chair, it was noted with concern that the government was resorting more and more to deficit financing in order to cope with the rising expenditure. This short-sighted method to raise funds was bound to fuel inflation. The NUSC also criticised the hike in the prices of petroleum products saying that such measures would put more pressure on the Indian rupee in the international market. |
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Cases filed by staff reviewed Chandigarh, September 4 The idea is to see if any of them can be given out of court benefits if everything is in place. These employees have been demanding promotions, fighting for their rights when superceded, or even when increments have been delayed. Sources said in some cases clerical errors were withholding benefits for employees. A complete and comprehensive list of all cases has been formulated. Each case was checked for details. A review will establish if the same can be removed at the level of the Administration. |
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Newborn
abandoned Chandigarh, September 4 Whereas it is not yet know who abandoned the child, the hospital authorities said the police had been informed. Further, the authorities maintained that until the family of the child is traced, the child would remain under the care of the hospital.
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Ramlila
Mahasabha poll on Sept 8 Chandigarh, September 4 All committees associated with the mahasabha, are expected to participate in the elections. It was stated in a press note issued by Chairman Ishwar Dass Singla. |
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Held for possessing panther’s skin Chandigarh, September 4 As per police sources, Negi was in process of selling the skin when he was arrested. He was booked under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Woman injured Scooterist, Seema, a resident of Sector 39, was injured when her scooter was hit by a motor cycle near the Togan village barrier on Tuesday. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered.
Theft cases Dr R.P.S. Josh, a Panjab University fellow and resident of Sector 15, reported that his
Maruti car (CH 03C 2665) was stolen from a parking lot in Sector 17 here on Tuesday. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered. A Panjab University hostler, Iman Sumraj, reported that his mobile phone was stolen from his hostel room on Monday.
Man beaten up A resident of Janta Colony, Sector 25, Rajinder, reported that he was allegedly beaten up by four namely Vinod, Parmod, Jai Pal and Mewa Devi on September 2. The complainant has been admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 16. A case under Sections 325 and 34 of the IPC has been registered. |
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Two held for illegal possession of liquor SAS Nagar, September 4 In a press note issued here today, Mr Harcharan Singh Bhullar, SP, said a naka was laid at the Lakhnour T-point by SI Ramandeep Singh and others on the intervening night of September 3 and 4. They were checking the vehicles when they noticed a Maruti car without any number. It was stopped and the staff checked the vehicle. They recovered 19 boxes of liquor. The liquor was meant to be sold in Chandigarh only. The police rounded up Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Hoshiarpur. However, another person fled from the scene. On questioning Rajesh Kumar told that he had purchased liquor from Chandigarh at a lower rate to sell it at a higher price in Hoshiarpur. He said he was doing so for the past two-three months. A case had earlier been registered against him at Garhshankar police station when 31 cartons of liquor were recovered from him. At another naka the police rounded up Sant Ram, a resident of Mauli Biadwan and recovered 50 pouches of liquor from him. The police has registered cases against both the persons. |
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Woman killed in mishap Panchkula, September 4 A case under Section 279, 337 and 304-A of the IPC has been registered at Pinjore police station. |
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MARKET SPOTLIGHT — 22 D
MAIN MARKET Do you have a wedding at home? Celebration of a wedding anniversary? Or any other social occasion? If you want to do it in style, you will have to visit the Sector 22-D market for making necessary purchases, one of principal shopping centres of the City Beautiful. The market is estimated to have an annual turnover of about Rs 100 crore and is one of the important sources of revenue generation for the city administration. It is gives direct and indirect employment to about 300 persons . It is frequented by an estimated up to 2000 persons on a normal day. Chandigarh formally came into being in 1952 when India's first President, Dr Rajindra Prasad, dedicated it to the nation. The first planned market to be constructed in the new city was in Sector 22. It consisted of the whole of 10 booths constructed across Kiran cinema and offered to businessmen. Not many were forthcoming. They had to be persuaded by the government to shift their business from the other nearby towns like Ambala and Patiala to Chandigarh. "We had set up our business at Ambala after shifting from Sialkot following the partition of the country in 1947", recalls Mr Arvind Jain, a member of the executive committee of the Market Welfare Association, Sector 22D( Main Market), Chandigarh. "My father, late Mr Anant Ram Jain, was asked by the then Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr Nakul Sen, the father of the AICC leader, Mrs Ambika Soni, to shift to Chandigarh. We were offered the choice of occupying anyone of the 10 booths built across Kiran cinema in Sector 22. "My father used to commute from Ambala to Chandigarh every day in a bus. Initially, the business was dull. Mr father used to recall that he earned just Rs 37.50 in the first six months of business Chandigarh. Then, things began to pick up slowly. In 1954, we shifted to the bigger shop cum flat from where we operate till now". There has been a sea change in the city during past five decades. Designed for a population of just about five lakh, Chandigarh is now bursting at the seams with its population approaching the one million mark. Vehicular traffic has increased manifold. Chandigarh has acquired the nickname of City Beautiful. When Chandigarh was designed, it was probably assumed that a city in an underdeveloped country would never able to afford air-conditioning. But with development and prosperity, life style of its residents has undergone a change. Its basic infrastructure, one of the most elaborate in the region, has begun to creak. Necessity is the mother of invention. The Market Welfare Association covering SCF 7 to SCF 34 in Sector 22-D came into being in response to what many members complain is increasing harassment from the officials of the Estate Office for alleged violation of the building byelaws. Although Chandigarh has changed a lot during the past half a century, its byelaws covering commercial property have remained more or less the same. The archaic byelaws framed in 1952 are being enforced mindlessly in the very first market of the city with the result that almost all the SCF's are facing resumption proceedings. Mr Kamal Jain, a jeweller, is one of the "victims". His renovated showroom is not being approved by the Estate Office. There are problems
galore in the market. And the biggest of them all is the need for reframing the byelaws governing the buildings which have refused to change despite so many changes which have taken place over the city in the last half century. The changes which have occurred in the last 50 years are: —
Roads have been broadened with changing times to accommodate traffic. — General bus stand in Sector 17 has become five times bigger than its original size in 1960. — Govt buildings have been changed several times to accommodate more staff due to the creation of several new departments, computerisation etc — There is no provision for a rehri market in the original Master Plan of the city. But numerous rehri markets have come up in almost all the sectors of the city and have been regularised and provided with pucca booths by the administration as apart of the votebank politics of the politicians. According to Mr K.C. Talwar and Mr Madan Gulati, the Market Welfare Association has addressed series of representations to the Administrator of Chandigarh, Adviser to the Administrator and other officers of the UT Administration with their demands and suggestions. Some of these are: Another major problem is of parking. The problem of the parking has become acute because the administration has, in its wisdom, established new markets in parking lots to accommodate the rehri markets. Even the green patches have been covered. These markets have now become parallel markets affecting the business in the main
markets. The Market Welfare Association has offered to take over maintenance of the parking lot in the front as well as back of the market but there has been no response so far. Encroachments in the parking lots is another headache. A bus stop across the street turns into a big traffic bottleneck in the evenings. A temple has come up at the back of the market an has been expanding steadily despite resistance from the shopkeepers. There is also the problem of ill-maintained, stinking
toilets. Those who are charged with the task of maintaining them let them out at night to hawkers and phariwalas to make a fast buck. There is no proper lighting in the market and the parking lots. According to Mr Anil Talwar, high incidence of sales tax on gold and diamond jewellery in Chandigarh is another irritant. The association has a membership fee of Rs 2000 per head per month. In addition, a sum of Rs 1000 is collected per month as association fund which is used for hiring private security and maintaining sanitation. Some security guards have been hired for Rs 15,000 per month. a sum Rs 2000 per month is paid to the sweeper.
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MARKET
PULSE Chandigarh With the tie-up, the company aims to cash in on Sidhu’s appeal as a commentator with his inimitable style, now popularly known as “Sidhuism”. Biskfarm Biscuits is promoted by SAJ Industries Private Limited. Launched on August 25 with eight brands, Biskfarm has now extended its portfolio to 21 speciality brands. The range includes Crave Cashew and Butter, Just Ginger, Snackies, Duet, Cottage Cream, Royal Cream, Creamy Lemon, Bourbon, Pack O Cheese, Mast Jeera etc. Spice showroom Spice Telecom opened its customer care network in Chandigarh with the inauguration of its franchisee showroom “Cord Communications” in Sector 17-D here on Wednesday. The showroom is a retail point and will provide the assistance and customer care to Spice subscribers. Inaugurating the showroom, Mr Rohit Malhotra, vice-president Sales and Marketing, Spice Telecom, said, “The Spice family has grown to cross the 3.85 lakh subscriber base mark.” PANCHKULA |
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Offering gold and diamond jewellery, clothes, general merchandise, and a host of other items, the Sector 22-D (main market) covers SCF 7 to SCF 34. Boasting of some of the best jewellery showrooms in northern India, the market plans to celebrate soon the golden jubilee of the founding of Chandigarh in a grand manner and proposes to come out with a series of attractive customer schemes to coincide with the forthcoming festival season.