Saturday,
March 29, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Degrees
given to 500 PGI doctors Chandigarh, March 28 Speaking on the occasion of the PGI’s 25th annual convocation, she said a report in the International Transparency, indicating that there was maximum corruption in the health sector in India, was a matter of great shame. “Even if we accept that there is only 10 per cent corruption, it is just not acceptable. Health is a very noble profession, which requires dedication and honesty,” she said. Referring to the kidney racket, female foeticide and taking of commission by those in the medical profession, she said while it was easy to make money, earning name by serving the sick and ailing was much more difficult. “I have a very long and close association with the PGI in different capacities, as patient, attendant and Health Minister in the Haryana Government. It pains to hear when anyone remarks that the PGI is no longer the same,” she remarked. She further said, “You all are on the threshold of starting your career. Do not forget that for a patient, a doctor is like a god. Even if there is work pressure, serve with a smile and a cool head. Let us all use the 25th convocation to sit together and assess our weaknesses and strengths. It is only through team spirit that the standards for which the PGI is known can be maintained or even bettered.” Praising PGI doctors for their dedication and hard work, she told the students that some of the best names in the medical field had spent their lifetime at PGI despite having best offers from other places and countries. “My mother died at the PGI and the way the doctors here tried to save her till the last minute won my respect and admiration for them,” she said. She gave away 500 degrees to students who had completed their PhD, DM, MCh, MD, MS, MSc and other courses. Dr Sutapa Bandhyopadhyay was given the Kataria Memorial Gold Medal for 2001. |
PGI to
have Dean soon Chandigarh, march 28 “Calling the governing body meeting for selecting the new Dean is hardly a task and the sooner the vacant posts are filled the better it is,” she said in reply to a question as to how soon the appointment would be made. She, however, added that a final decision in this regard was yet to be taken. Interestingly the manner in which the two contenders for the post, Prof R.J. Dash, head of Endocrinology and Prof Sudha, head of Radiology, were vying to catch the attention of the minister was rather too obvious. Infact, Dr Dash who is the seniormost doctor at the PGI, conducted the proceedings both at the convocation as well as at the inauguration of the National Institute of Nursing Education. “ It appears that Dr Dash is emerging as the hot favourite for the post and in any case he is seniormost”, speculate PGI sources. Dr Dash’s name is at number one in the seniority list followed by Dr Sarla
Gopalan, Dr Sudha Suri and Dr Promila Chari. |
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Sushma
takes a trip down memory lane Chandigarh, March 28 Taking a trip down memory lane, the nostalgic minister said she had visited universities in the USA, Japan and several other countries. However, her visit to PU reminded her of one of the “best time of her life”. Mrs Swaraj asked the Population Research Centre of the university to undertake a research project on ‘Population
stabilisation and the impact of incentives and disincentives for suatainable stabilisation of population’. Responding to Vice-Chancellor, K.N. Pathak request for starting dental college here, she asked the university to submit a proposal for the project. Later talking to The Tribune Professor Pathak said that work on the project proposal had already commenced and a copy would soon be forwarded to the Health Ministry. In response to a demand by the Population Research Centre, the minister announced that the ministry had already released the required funds. Mrs Swaraj inaugurated the Arts Block VI on the campus. The three-storeyed building has a covered an area of 15,123 square feet and has been built at an approximate cost of Rs 54. 5 lakh. Professor Pathak said that Mrs Swaraj was a student on the campus between 1970 and 1973. Besides being an excellent student she also won the prestigious K.K. Grover and A.C. Bali debate and declamation contests. She is also known for her participation in drama events. Professor Pathak presented the latest publication of the Women’s Study Centre titled “Narratives from the Women Studies-Family Recreating Knowledge” edited by Dr Pam Rajput to the minister. Prof K.C. Kaistha, chairman of the Department of Sociology, made a presentation on the status and functioning of the Population Research Centre.
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HC quashes orders to close down bazar Chandigarh, March 28 The order is significant as the bazar was offering household goods to the residents at reasonable prices. Medicines were also sold over the counter at controlled rates in the hospitals and other parts of the city. Over 200 employees were depending upon the bazar for their livelihood. Challenging the orders of winding up the bazar and the appointment of a liquidator, Hem Raj and other petitioners had earlier contended that the same were violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India. Arguing on their behalf, the counsel for the petitioners had submitted that the orders were also against the principles of natural justice as the employees were asked to hand over the charge even though they were not at fault. No logical reason was given for arriving at the conclusion that the bazar was no longer serving public interest, he had added. In a related petition, the Super Bazar Chandigarh Employees Union and other petitioners had stated that no scheme had been formulated to rehabilitate the employees terminated after serving for 30 to 35 years under the “effective control of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies”. Opposing fresh recruitment of employees by the UT Administration, the Union members had added that instead of recruiting new candidates, the petitioners with clean service record should be considered for appointment in the Super Bazar. They had further submitted that ever since the liquidator took over the control of the bazar, salaries, even subsistence amount or other allowances, had not been paid to the petitioners. The counsel had asserted that the bazar had been closed due to the mismanagement by the administration. Pronouncing the orders in the open Court, the High Court held that the report submitted by the committee formulated by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies could not be termed as “investigation” as envisaged under the provisions of the relevant Act. The report as such could not have been relied upon by the Registrar while passing the impugned orders directing the winding up of the bazar, besides the appointment of the liquidator. |
Constable
suspended
for assault Panchkula, March 28 Singlesh had alleged that he was stopped by the policeman posted at the roundabout dividing Sectors 10, 11, 4 and 5 and was asked to show the documents of his two-wheeler. He alleged that the constable abused him and on raising objecting he beat him up with his cane. Singlesh suffered injuries on his right arm. After undergoing a medical examination, he lodged a complaint with the Superintendent of Police, Mr Ranbir Singh Sharma. Mr Sharma instituted an inquiry into the incident following which Ishwar Singh was placed under suspension. |
LPG refills sold on road Dera Bassi, March 28 There is no guarantee for weight or safety measures needed to keep the highly inflammable LPG under check. Dera Bassi has only one Bharat Gas LPG agency and Zirakpur has none. So how do more than 1 lakh families living in these two townships get their LPG supply? Truck loads of LPG cylinders are brought to Zirakpur and Dera Bassi on Sundays, pointed out a source. All along the Chandigarh --Delhi road and also the Chandigarh-Patiala road. Small shopkeepers stock up to five cylinders in the open. The idea to stock only five cylinders is to circumvent the Indian Explosives Act which says that a person cannot stock more than 100 kilograms of LPG without a licence. Five cylinders, each weighing 14.5 kg add up to less than 100 kg. Trailing this explosive phenomena the Tribune team first went to Bhankarpur near the new railway overbridge on the Chandigarh--Delhi road. A man repairing cycles said he does not have cylinders of Indane, but pointed out to a house, saying "try there". Two women opened the door. As many as 20 Bharatgas cylinders were lying in the coutyard. At Mubarikpur, the cylinders are stocked next to a petrol pump on the Mubarikpur-Ramgarh road. At Zirakpur the sale is even more open. Two years ago the oil companies asked all Chandigarh-based LPG agencies to supply LPG to Dera Bassi and Zirakpur. Officially they pulled out. |
Contractor
alleges harassment by SAS Nagar, March 28 The Administrative Secretary, Dr Manmohan Singh, has refuted the charges. He says the department concerned has taken action against them on the basis of complaints of villagers. In a press conference held here today, Mr Gurmeet Singh, heading Gurmeet and Company, said he had undertaken earth work on a 25-km stretch of the Chandigarh-Morinda railway line, out of which he had completed work on over 12 km. “I lift soil from places where levelling of the landscape is required and that too only after permission from the land owner,” he said. Mr Gurmeet Singh said he and a land owner of Nagari village, Mr Surjant Singh, had a mutual understanding. This was not appreciated by Mr Manmohan Singh, who also owned land in the village, he added. Mr Surjant Singh also addressed the press conference. He maintained that Mr Gurmeet Singh’s five trucks were illegally detained by the police on the complaint of Dr Manmohan Singh and no mining work had been done by them since March 24. On the other hand, Dr Manmohan Singh said he had no direct interest in the matter and some villagers had complained against mining being done by Mr Gurmeet Singh, following which the department concerned had taken action against them. “I have no role to play whatsoever,” he said. |
Haryana, HP Sikhs to attend rally Chandigarh, March 28 Responding to a call given by the Prof Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar Defence Committee, these organisations today unanimously adopted resolutions to urge the Union Government for clemency. The Parbandhak Committee of Gurdwara Paonta Sahib (Himachal Pradesh), the Haryana unit of the Akali Dal (Ambala), and the Haryana Sikh organisations based at Kaithal, Sirsa and other places have also decided to send big delegations to participate in the rally which will commence from the historic Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. The SGPC and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have not only declared their unanimous support for the success of the rally but the former has also taken the responsibility of looking after all aspects of the rally, including printing of leaflets, brochures and pamphlets. In fact, it was the Professor Bhullar’s case that brought all major factions of the SAD together when they met the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, in New Delhi some weeks ago. The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, the Dal Khalsa, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), the Punjab Human Rights Organisation and others have also announced their decision to participate in the rally. Besides, Sikh and human rights organisations worldwide have
expressed their solidarity with the committee and extended their support to seek clemency for
Professor Bhullar. The German Government, too, took up the matter with the Indian Government. A delegation also came from Canada to plead clemency for Professor Bhullar. Talking to The Tribune, Jathedar Kartar Singh
Takkar, who is a member of the Parbandhak Committee of Gurdwara Paonta Sahib, alleged that the award of death sentence to Professor Bhullar, corroborated the allegation of minorities that there were two sets of rules in the country. “For the minorities, it does not make a difference whether the Congress or the BJP is in power at the Centre. The minorities have suffered heavily under both regimes. Professor Bhullar is a test case. He has been given death sentence even when it has been proved that he was not directly involved in the incident,” he said. |
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Nod to MC Bhavan construction SAS Nagar, March 28 Among the other agenda items passed by the council were the much-wanted repair of the two fire engines owned by the SAS Nagar Fire Station at the cost of Rs 1.75 lakh. It was further decided that the Additional Executive Officer, Mr Sarbjit Singh, would hold an inquiry into the penalty of Rs 2.70 lakh on some council vehicles for the lack of registration. The council passed the agenda item relating to the ban on putting up of tents by commercial organisations or private parties for publicity on footpath in the township. It was also decided that the tube-well scheduled to be dug at Sylvie Park in Phase X will now be dug for residential use in Phase IX. The agenda item relating to a decision to undertake a pre-audit of the council’s expenditure and income was put off for the next meeting, as no unanimous decision could be taken. The council also decided not to grant permission to the Vigilance Department to present a challan against Padam Prakash, one of the three employees of the council, against whom the department was conducting an inquiry. |
20 Home Guard orderlies
withdrawn Chandigarh, March 28 Objecting to the move, a delegation of the DSPs recently met the Senior Superintendent of Police. Though the outcome of the meeting could not be ascertained, sources said the matter was brought to the notice of the Inspector-General of Police, Chandigarh. However, the officials concerned said as per the prevailing practice and rules they were entitled to keep one orderly at their homes and office. The officials had surrendered their sepoys to meet the requirement of the force at the police station, said a senior official. As per the rules the salary of the Home Guard volunteers was drawn from the contingency funds of the Home Guards and they can be put on the job for which they volunteer. However, the 20-odd volunteers were working at the residence of officials and drawing their salaries against their duties shown in different units of the
police. The sources said the department had to pay Rs 3,000 per month to each Home Guard volunteer. |
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READERS WRITE THIS is in response to the letter to the Editor entitled ‘MLAs: then and now’, by Jaspal Singh Mann in The Tribune dated 19.3.03. I have neither any hesitation, nor does it prick my conscience now when I say that we Indians are clearly unfit for democracy. I am not even ashamed to accept that we were not ready or fit for Independence from the British either. Retrospectively, I must also admit that we were as a matter of fact, more at peace, happy and contented under British rule. Our politicians of yore, in general, were not a hungry lot. A person with full stomach not only has an able body but also a healthy, constructive mind. It is such a person alone that can govern or rule better than a hungry man does. The rajas, maharajas and princes of yesteryears at least had the welfare of their kingdom and their subjects at heart, unlike these pitiful excuses, the self-proclaimed kings of today. Where have we come to in these 50-odd years of Independence? Who could have imagined an independent India, where corruption is rampant and all pervasive, where fickle mindedness and abysmally low morals make for a wobbly social structure? Who would have envisaged an India where lowest literacy rate goes hand-in-hand with joblessness, skyrocketing prices, and dark alleys of hunger and abject poverty. Fit for democracy, we are certainly not. Our politicians have managed to make such a terrible mess of the democratic system of governance that the urgent need of the hour is that we should seriously consider turning to some alternative mode of governance. It is only when there is peace and stability that prosperity and progress can possibly reign. For this to take place a presidential government in some modified form is worth a sincere trial. It is in its own interest that the public elects a person of known integrity, progressive outlook, good education, sound moral values and high social stature as the President. Then the President can nominate a council of advisers, again of an unquestionable integrity and high calibre in their respective field viz. law, economics or commerce, education, health, defense, and so on. On advice from such experts the President can nominate heads of state and their advisory councils. Professor Vishvamitter
An unforgettable experience This is in reference to Jaspal Bhatti’s Ulta Pulta column (The Tribune, dated March 21, 2003). Does Mr Bhatti intend his observations regarding virus software being programmed by the same people who peddle the antidote anti-virus software to be taken in lighter vein? Or does he actually mean it? I ask because this has been one of many strongly held suspicions of similar kind in my mind. Take the case of those who market power back-up systems (inverters and generators), air-coolers and airconditioning systems. I recently had a bad experience with a bed-weaver that brought back memories of an incident related to me by my grandfather nearly three decades ago. My grandfather lived in a four-storeyed house in Lahore prior to Partition. A bed-weaver, who used to visit the locality every few days, was commissioned to repair a bed kept on the open terrace on the top floor. Through with his work, he came downstairs to collect his wages, when it struck my grandfather to just have a look at what he had done. He was astonished at what he saw. Though the man had repaired the bed, he had nicked the ‘nivaar’ of the bed at certain places, for it to rip open with use within a couple of days, so that he could be called in again to repair it! It was with a sense of deja vu that I was accosted with exactly identical situation a few days ago vis-a-vis a contemporary bed-weaver, albeit this time the ‘nivaar’ was of synthetic material, not the cotton one. I did not have the good sense to suspect any foul play, but was awakened into realisation when I fell off the bed with a thud as the ‘nivaar’ gave way at places where it had recently been nicked by the weaver! Vivek Khanna,
Why is PU in financial trouble I am a final year student of 10+2 trying for admission in an engineering course. In order to avail various options, I decided to participate in the combined entrance tests of both Delhi University as well as Panjab University. While the form of Delhi University, including examination fee, is costing Rs 400/-, the cost for the similar form, including examination fee of Panjab University, is Rs 1300. Will the Vice Chancellor of PU explain for this yawning gap? Is it bad management or some other reasons? Whatever may be the reasons, to a commoner like me, those who are managing the affairs of Delhi University appear to have taken into account the spending capacity of lower and lower middle class and look keen to ensure participation from poorest of the poor, which unfortunately is not the case with P.U. It is fast getting the tag of being university in an elite city for the elite class with prodigal ways of doing things in tune with the ways of the elite class. And it also answers why P.U. is in financial trouble. The job which can be performed in Rs 400/ is being performed in triple the cost. Malvika Sood,
POWs and Geneva Convention During the US Iraq war several soldiers of allied forces have died and many captured by the Iraqi defence authorities. Al-Jazeera TV has relayed the pictures of these soldiers. The Iraqi leadership has been asked to treat them as per the Geneva Convention. According to this, POWs are not supposed to load or unload material or to do any menial work. They are to be treated gracefully in enemy country. The conventions provides that the use of force should be proportionate and used only when necessary. The question is whether the war is being fought in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention. The allied forces are ruthlessly attacking civilians. The US President and Defence Secretary have blatantly violated the well-established resolution of the UN as the war is being waged in contravention to the wishes of the American people. The demonstrations against the Bush regime are being held daily. How do the allied forces expect that their soldiers should be treated according to the Convention when the act of the US amounts to barbarism? On the other hand, the Iraqi leaders have publicly announced that POWs would be treated as per the Geneva Convention as well as other international laws. S.K. Khosla,
Respect Syndicate decisions Can PU override decisions of the Syndicate or Senate? If the answer to this question is ‘no’, then the following matter certainly deserves attention and pursuance of necessary action against the guilty university officials. After a thorough discussion in the Syndicate meeting dated 18.1.2003, it was finally resolved that a common price of Rs 1100/- for general category and Rs 550/- for SC/ST category be fixed for both CET and O-CET prospectus. Although the O-CET prospectus (2003) is yet to be released on( 28.3.2003), the CET prospectus (2003)was released by Panjab University on 28.2.2003, which has been priced at Rs 1300/- instead of Rs 1100/- for general category, as per the above-said Syndicate decision. Even Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have not been spared by the university authorities as they are being sold the CET prospectus (2003) at the counter for Rs 650/- instead of Rs 550/-, as approved by the Syndicate. If this is the regard the PU authorities have for the decisions of its supreme bodies like the Syndicate and Senate, which frequently meet to look into the affairs of this university, one can well imagine the height of high-handedness and arbitrariness in implementing other rules and regulations, particularly the ones prescribed by agencies like the UGC, which have practically lost all effective check over the lawlessness prevailing in hundreds of universities and thousands of colleges in India. Jaswant Singh Rana Blackmail by cable operator There is lot of resentment among cable consumers at the unabashed exploitation, harassment and threats of disconnection from a cable operator in Sector 8, Chandigarh. Without even caring to reveal the identity of their owner, his minions go from house to house in Sector8-B and 8-C demanding Rs 200 to Rs 100 towards “fresh” installation and cable connection charges. Their modus operandi is that the old owner has changed although the fact remains that the premises and other infrastructure of the “new” owner are the same. Most of the consumers have already paid installation and cable connection charges at least twice and there is little force for fresh demands. The connections of more vocal residents who refuse to submit to their unreasonable demands have been disconnected without notice. Even servants of landlords owning a TV set are being blackmailed into submission. Exercising powers bestowed by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the U.T. Administration has asked cable operators to furnish details of their costs incurred on providing the service. They have been told to submit a report listing the number of subscribers, monthly subscription fee and the amount each operator pays to the channels. It is an open secret that the operators blatantly cheat even the channels by understating the number of subscribers and so on. Fed up with the continuing exploitation and high-handedness, the Sector 34 Houseowners Welfare Association has decided to launch their own cable distribution service. The association will be charging a mere Rs 50 p.m. from each subscriber. Even Ambala residents have floated a similar network and are charging as little as Rs 40 p.m. The Sector 8 Householders Welfare Association has called a meeting on March 31 to consider the issue. The Centre has appointed U.T. Deputy Commissioner as the nodal officer to sort out the row between operators and consumers following lots of complaints of overcharging by the operators. It is hoped that the Administration will issue strict instructions to cable operators not to demand any fresh installation and reconnection charges till such time some cable policy is finalised. Bawa Charan Pal Singh, |
Power supply may be hit Panchkula, March 28 The Nigam authorities said that this has been necessitated for connecting a new 220-KV substation with this line , being constructed at Tepla near Ambala. The official press release said that power in Ambala and Yamunanagar will have to be regulated during this period. This could result in load shedding and some power cuts in these areas. |
Photographer
awarded Chandigarh, March 28 This information was given here today by president of Friends of Photography, Mr Adit Agarwala, who informed that the said prize was bagged out of over 1800 entries made in the contest. Coloured picture titled "Life in hills" by another FOP member Mr BSN Reddy was chosen for display in the prestigious show.
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Sharif’s death due to truck hit: police Chandigarh, March 28 The victim who was strolling along with his friends on the Dadu Majra road , had died of head injuries which he sustained after being hit by a truck coming from his back. It hit Sharif on the left leg. As a result he fell on the road and sustained the injury, The shards of a head light of the truck which were found on the road, had fallen after the vehicle hit the victim. |
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Woman commits suicide Chandigarh, March 28 Rape: An eight- year-old dumb girl was raped by an unidentified person in Bapu Dham colony here today. According to the information, the victim was allegedly taken out of the house by the suspect late last night. The girl was found standing in another slum area of colony. The girl has been admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital.The police has registered a case of murder on the statement of the victim’s mother. Theft:
Mr J.C. Kapoor, a resident of Sector 15 has complained to the police that gold ornaments worth Rs 26,000 and Rs 2,000 cash were allegedly from his house. |
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