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Bhattal’s case adjourned to January 7 Chandigarh, December 18 The case came up for hearing in the court of the UT Special Judge, Mr R.S Baswan. Counsel for Mrs Bhattal argued that Mrs Bhattal was suffering from patchy
pneumonitis (atypical) with allergic bronchitis, therefore, she was unable to attend the court and pleaded that she should be exempted from personal appearance. In order to substantiate his claim, Mrs Bhattal’s counsel produced a medical certificate issued by the Metro Hospitals and Heart Institute Micro Centre for Respiratory Disease, Sector 12, Noida, Uttar Pardesh. The doctor had advised her rest for 10 days. Meanwhile the complainant in the case, Mr Balwant Singh Dhillon, while talking to media outside the UT District Courts, alleged that Mrs Bhattal had been adopting a delaying tactics to avoid framing of charges against her. Mrs Bhattal was allegedly involved in a case pertaining to corruption and embezzlement of Rs 20 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in 1996. The FIR in this case was registered against Mrs Bhattal on May 22 last year. |
Rebels’ issue can affect
Cong chances, says Bir Devinder Patiala, December 18 Talking to newsmen after inaugurating a sports meet here, the Deputy Speaker said the week long activity in Delhi had raised apprehensions in the minds of people of the state as to whether the Congress could provide a stable government or not. He said “stability” was one of the main poll planks of the Congress party and the people needed to be reassured on this score. He said he was hopeful that the Congress party would overcome the present crisis following different stances taken by members of its legislature group. Speaking about himself, he said he was supposed to maintain nuetrality due to his post of Deputy Speaker. He said he had, however, given his opinion on the issue to the High Command and was confident it would take appropriate action to end the crisis. |
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Police inspector given premature retirement Chandigarh, December 18 According to informed sources, the premature retirement order has been issued under Section 3 (1) of the Punjab Civil Services Rules, 1975. The sources said that the Inspector had completed 50 years of age after which the premature retirement could be given as per service rules.. It may be mentioned that most of the police officers of the Special Investigation Team ( SIT) set up to handle the Daler Mehndi case were shifted from Patiala by the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh. The CM had stated that he did not want that corrupt police officials should remain posted in his home district. The three Inspector-level officials who were posted out of Patiala then were Shamsher Singh Guddu, who was posted to Mansa, Didar Singh and Prem Singh. According to sources, Shamsher Singh Guddu is said to be close to a senior IPS officer posted at Chandigarh who is trying to get his premature retirement order revoked. The retirement order has been passed on the basis of the “bad record” of the Inspector during his service, especially in Ludhiana district. The police records show that during his tenure in Ludhiana, he was involved in several crimes and as many as three FIRs were registered at Police Division 5 and 6, respectively, in 1995 and 1996. In his inquiry report, the former SSP of Jalandhar, Mr Varinder Kumar, had termed Shamsher Singh a “dacoit in police uniform”. The inquiry was conducted into a case where Guddu had allegedly sold machinery worth lakhs of rupees belonging to a Ludhiana industrialist. A case was registered ( FIR 159) under Sections 395, 397 and 511 of the IPC in 1995. The SSP of Ludhiana, Mr Narinder Pal Singh, when contacted, said his arrest in the case could not be made even though his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the court. An inquiry is being conducted by the DIG, Patiala Range. The SSP said the other two cases registered against him are FIR 146 in which he was booked for abduction and illegal confinement under Sections 365, 342 and 323 of the IPC in 1996 and FIR 190 in which he was booked for trespassing, criminal intimidation, etc under Sections 448, 427 and 506 of the IPC. The two cases were still being tried by the local courts, he added. According to sources, Guddu was also booked in a corruption case by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, Patiala, in 2002. Meanwhile, the Inspector, who joined duty for a brief period, is reportedly on medical leave. |
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Rights panel member’s order arbitrary, rules HC Chandigarh, December 18 Challenging the order in his petition against the commission, the state of Punjab, Gurdaspur’s Senior Superintendent of Police and other respondents, an Assistant Sub-Inspector with the anti-fraud squad, Baldev Singh, had submitted that Mr Rajput’s order was “grossly in excess of jurisdiction vested in the Human Rights Commission”. The order was passed on October 30. Giving details of the relevant provisions, he had contended that a complaint filed in the matter could not have been entertained by the commission as it was filed “beyond the period of limitation prescribed in a section of the Human Rights Act”. Appearing before the Bench headed by Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar, counsel for the petitioner said that as per the relevant rules the state commission was barred from inquiring into matters after the expiry of the one-year period from the date on which the “act constituting the violation of human rights was alleged to have been committed”. He added that the incident, on the basis of which the first information report (FIR) alleging simple hurt and theft was registered under Sections 323, 379 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code, had allegedly occurred on July 28, 1999. The police had infact recommended the cancellation of the case under Section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on July 30, 2001, counsel had asserted. Claiming that the commission’s order was liable to be quashed, counsel said it directly encroached upon the trial court’s jurisdiction. Moreover, it was not in conformity with the due process of law. After hearing the arguments in the matter and going through the documents, Mr Justice Nijjar and Mr Justice S.S. Grewal ruled that the order was prima facie “patently illegal”. The judges also issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab and other respondents, besides staying the operation of the impugned order issued by the commission. The case will now come up for further hearing on February 10. |
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Khalsa Diwan row: meeting on Dec 22 Amritsar, December 18 The committee, which was given over the charge following intervention by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), would discuss the legalities so that elections to the Khalsa diwan could be held without any complication. The five-member committee may recommend the postponement of the proposed election of the diwan, scheduled to be held on January 4 next year. It would take time to scrutinise the list of members as the 284 members, who were expelled by the rival group, had already moved court. The five-member committee comprising Justice Kuldip Singh, Justice R.S. Narula (both retired Justices), Principal Ram Singh, Mr Prithipal Singh Kapur, a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University and Dr Kharak Singh, a member of the Dharm Prachar Committee of SGPC, would hold detailed discussion on the constitution of the diwan. As per constitution of the Khalsa diwan there was no provision to hand over the charge to a committee, constituted by Akal Takht. Though the Deputy Commissioner had
already handed over the charge to the five-member committee by revoking his own decision, but there was apprehension that any member of the Chief Khalsa Diwan could move the court as the diwan was registered under the Societies Act, 1860. Though Mr Prithipal Singh Kapur had been looking after the administration of the diwan as per the wishes of Akal Takht but there was no provision in its constitution of supervision of the work by an ‘outsider’. However, when contacted, Mr Kapur said when constitution stood dissolved, there was need to take emergency measures. Hence in such situation, looking after administration of the diwan could not be challenged. Mr Charanjit Singh Chadda, a leader of rival group of the Khalsa diwan, however, said that his group would bow before any decision taken by the five-member committee as they considered Akal Takht as supreme body of the Sikhs. |
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Bail plea of Daler Mehndi’s kin, associate disallowed Patiala, December 18 The pop singer, who has till tomorrow to surrender before the court or be declared a proclaimed offender, failed to appear before the court here. The court today rejected the anticipatory bail applications filed by both Shamsher Mehndi’s wife Balwinder Kaur as well as Bul Bul Mehta who claims to be a business associate of the Mehndi brothers. Both of them earlier claimed that they had been falsely implicated in the case. Balwinder Kaur had even complained that she was suffering from a serious brain ailment and was not fit to travel and nothing had been recovered from her house which required for her custodial interrogation. Bul Bul Mehta had also filed a separate application appealing for the recall of the orders under which proceedings had been started to get him declared a proclaimed offender in the case. He claimed he had never dodged the law. He claimed that he was ready to cooperate in the case and an order to be passed to recall the earlier direction in the case. The application was dismissed. There was excitement in the court complex as Daler Mehndi was expected to present himself before the court. However Daler, failed to show up. Sources said the pop singer has filed for bail in a Delhi court and that he could be awaiting decision of the court before giving himself up. In a related development Punjabi singer Sukha
Dilliwala, who is also accused of running a human trafficking racket was today remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by a court. |
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UGC chief for making education job-oriented
Jalandhar, December 18 Talking to The Tribune here today, Chairman of the UGC Dr Arun Nigavekar, said that the universities had been asked to introduced dual mode education programme, under which a student would undergo one-year certificate course in professional fields like computer applications, communication skills and others while pursuing his or her three-year-degree course in traditional format. You see, out of around 9.2 million students all over the country84 per cent are pursuing traditional degree courses like BA, B.Com and B.Sc while the remaining students choose to enter professional streams. With the introduction of dual mode education programme, these 84 per cent students could be imparted professional education to enable get better jobs after passing out from an institution,” he said. “Besides, we have asked the universities to keep the fee for such certificate courses on the lower side since the educational institutions will be utilising their existing infrastructure to generate extra revenue, which can be used for research purposes,” Mr Nigavekar said, adding that there was need to be more focused in the education sector in this global scenario. Elaborating he said that the UGC had decided to grant more funds to the institutions running under graduate courses and those located in rural areas to improve quality of education being imparted at the grassroot level. Commenting upon the grading list of 150 best colleges in the country, known for teaching practices, the Chairman said that every university had been told to submit a panel of three best colleges and the final list would be released by March next year. Later, he inaugurated 18th annual national convention of the Indian Association of Physics Teachers at Hans Raj Mahila Mahavidyalaya here by lighting a lamp. Others, who were present include the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) Dr S.P. Singh, principal of the HMV College Ms P.P. Sharma.  |
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Plant yielding diesel-like retract grown in village Sanaura (Jalandhar), December 18 The plant, is currently grown in Maharashtra and brought by Brig Dhillon is four-months old. He hope to get its first yield after another eight months. The plant, has maximum age of 40 years, is likely to give full yield after three years. Brig. Dhillon, who has planted 800 Jatropha plants as an experimental. He has not worked out economics of the diesel to be produced from the plant, he hopeful it would to be cheaper alternative fuel, particularly, for farmers who use diesel pump sets for farms. The Punjab Agriculture Department has also shown interest in his venture and the Director of the Department has already visited the farm of Brig. Dhillon and his effort to diversification has been recognised by Dr Naresh Gulati, a Department official associated with the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), in his ATMA sponsored book “Success Stories”. Jatropha plant, according to Mr B.S. Kahlon, Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), could attain natural height between 10 feet to 15 feet even in changed climactic conditions of the region. “The plants have not faced any growth or other problem as yet. The best thing is that it can be straightway be used in place of diesel after extraction of seeds of Jatropha plant, If you want to use it as motor vehicle fuel, you need to do slight purification with the help of a small machine. I have come to know that a German company supplies that machine,” said Brig Dhillon. On the price and economics of Jatropha seed oil, Brig. Dhillon said he had not worked it so far as he was worried about the survival of the plants, still, he said that it would cost around Rs 10 a
litre. |
Badal alleges police
spying on him Hoshiarpur, December 18 He said that this act of Capt Amarinder Singh Government was violation of human rights. He was talking to reporters at Kharodhi village 35 km from here today where he came to attend the reception of a son of Mr Surinder Singh, a senior leader of Akali Dal of Hoshiarpur district. |
Policy to curb tax pilferage on anvil, says Lal Singh Jalandhar, December 18 Talking to reporters here today, the Punjab Finance Minister, Mr Lal Singh, said the government had decided to initiate strict measures to check tax pilferage by making the officials concerned accountable for the loss to the state exchequer. “We are in the process of formulating a new tax policy to suggest meaures to reduce the rate of tax while going tough on tax evaders. We will take strict departmental action against officials who fail to curb tax evasion and are virtually hand in glove with defaulting registered dealers,” he said, adding that an increase in tax receipts would ensure proper development in the state. Commenting on the Opposition charge that the Congress government had withdrawn free power facility to the agriculture sector after coming to power, the minister said the government was compensating the loss of the PSEB to the tune of Rs 950 crore per year on account of providing subsidised power to farmers. “Besides, we purchased power from the Central pool by spending around Rs 450 crore during the last paddy season,” he said. When asked about the stability of the Congress government in the wake of the row between Agriculture Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, he said there was no threat to the government and the matter would be solved amicably. |
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4 Pak MPs arrive Wagah (Amritsar), December 18 Mr Bhandara told reporters that the ‘ice’ between two countries had started melting. He wanted solid steps for peace in the region and resolve issues between two countries. He said people of both countries want peace. He said after Confidence-building measures by two countries scenario between two countries was changing gradually. Mr Bhandara said the interaction between two countries should continue. Other members of delegation include Mr Kamaruzaman Kehra, Mr Shahid Nadeem and Ms Shacri Rehman. The delegation was received by Mr Abdul Rashid Shahid, Member of Parliament from Baramula, Kashmir, Members of South Asia Peoples’ Forum and the Folkore Research Academy here. |
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Stray dogs maul boy to death Abohar, December 18 This is fourth such incident in less than a year. According to residents of the area Ram Kumar had come here with his family to pick cotton as daily wage earner from Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. The family was returning from the fields after work at 5 PM yesterday. Ram Kumar was carrying green fodder on his head. His son Kaptan was following them. As they passed by the ground for the disposal of dead animals five dogs attacked Kaptan and grabbed his neck. As the boy cried, his father and mother sounded an alarm. The villagers helped to rescue the boy but he was declared dead when brought to the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital at 6 PM. Early this year a person aged 72 was attacked by stray dogs in fields near the same place at Alamgarh village 2 km away from Abohar. Same dogs in this village attacked and killed a seven-year schoolgirl three days before this incident. Another case was reported from near Khuiyansarwer village after a month of the Alamgarh tragedy. News reports had prompted the Health Department teams to visit Alamgarh to help residents kill such dogs, a few dogs had shifted to other villages to escape villagers wrath around Alamgarh. There were similar incidents in the town which faced monkey-menace for past five years. The Health Department maintained that it was the duty of the Municipal Council to kill hostile stray dogs but the Council had been reluctant even to deal with dogs suffering from rabies. Such dogs had been roaming around Shivpuri, cremation ground for some time. It took five years to the council to get the ‘Haddan Rohri’ shifted from the town to nearby Killianwali village after taking a piece of land on lease. Reports indicated that hostile stray dogs still roaming in other villages of this subdivision besides outskirts of the town. |
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Moga, December 18 According to reports, the bus (PB 05-987), which was on its way to Ferozepur from Chandigarh, dashed against a truck parked at the roadside, 88 km from here near Ajitwal village on the Moga-Ludhiana road. As many as 11 students of Lala Lajpat Rai Polytechnic College, Ajitwal, were injured. The driver was reportedly speeding despite the dense fog. All students were rushed to a nearby hospital. A Maruti car on its way to Ludhiana hit the rear of the truck involved in the accident. In another incident, one person was injured when a jeep collided with a scooter on the Moga-Channuwala road.—
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Villagers foil garbage
dumping bid Phagwara, December 18 Led by the sarpanch, Bhag Mall, and Shiv Sena (Rural) president Gurdip Saini, the villagers did not allow a tractor-trailer loaded with garbage to dump the refuse and forced it to return. Earlier, they made the JCB machine team to return without digging a pit for dumping the garbage yesterday. The disposal of waste is becoming a headache for the council. |
HIGH COURT Chandigarh, December 18 Claiming that the process was marred by gross irregularities, Moga-district resident Diljit Singh and three others had earlier submitted that directions should also be issued for re-compiling the results after following the process of “scaling and moderation” of marks. In a similar application, Charanjit Kaur and seven other candidates had earlier claimed that a majority of the selected candidates, as apprehended, belonged to the science stream. The rights of candidates belonging to the humanities stream had been prejudiced, the petitioners had claimed. They had added that the anomaly had occurred as the commission had not adopted the requisite formula for scaling marks. Notice of motion Mr Justice J.S. Khehar of the High Court today issued notice of motion on a petition filed by 53 former employees of zila parishads and panchayat samitis. They were seeking directions for quashing an order issued by the state of Punjab on May 10 last year, along with another notification, to the extent that “the pension scheme had been implemented in zila parishads and panchayat samitis with effect from July 1, 1999. Describing the orders as illegal, mala fide and discriminatory, they had sought directions to the respondents to implement the scheme with effect from January 1, 1986. Cop fined For appearing in the court under the influence of liquor, a Punjab police head constable was today asked to deposit Rs 5,000 with the Punjab State Legal Service Authority. The official was earlier sent to a hospital for medical examination after the matter was brought to the notice of Mr Justice Nirmal Singh of the High Court. |
3 booked for rape of 3 sisters Talwandi Sabo, December 18 Police sources said that three sisters originally from Suratgarh town of neighbouring Rajasthan, have been living in the town with their maternal grandmother to look after her, as she was a widow. Six or seven months ago, three friends namely Pardeep Kumar, Jagjit Singh and Pankaj Kumar become friendly with them. After sometime they (friends) started visiting the house of the three sisters at night and used to rape them by making false promise of marriage. Sources added that mother of the girls who lives at Surat Garh with her husband and a son came to know of this thing and when she asked from her daughters they revealed her everything about false promise of marriage. The sisters also told the mother that accused had asked them not to tell anybody of their affairs. If they did they would not marry them. The mother complained to the police and a case against the accused was registered under Sections 376, 452, 420, and 34 of the IPC yesterday. Medical examinations of the victims was yet to be conducted. None has been accused so far. |
Gang making fake currency busted, 7 held Nawanshahr, December 18 The police has seized a computer, a printer, colour scanner, white papers, chemicals, tin siver-coloured plates and brushes. On a tip-of, two of the gang members, were nabbed at a naka near Mallupota village yesterday while they were supplying fake currency on a scooter. Fake currency amounting to Rs 42,950 was seized from them. During interrogation, they revealed that Sat Pal was the gang leader. |
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Staff beat up railway policemen Ropar, December 18 Mr Ajaib Singh ASI, along
with the local Station Master reached the Railway Colony and found
Baljit Singh and Nirmaljit Singh alongwith their accomplices beating
up another employee Ramesh Kumar. The police tried to rescue Ramesh
Kumar. The accused who were allegedly, under the influence of liquor
attacked them. They beat up the police personnal, including the ASI.
The Railway police called for reinforcement and nabbed Baljit Singh
and Nimaljit Singh. However, there accomplices fled. Both were sent to
the Civil Hospital for medical examination.— OC |
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Fake certificate racket busted, three held Amritsar, December 18 According to a press note issued by the district police, the suspects had been arrested on a tip-off. The press note stated that the suspects would make claims to the candidates that they had links in the Army Cantonment Board and could get them recruited in the Army. The police has seized 35 fake certificates from the possession of the suspects, who used to get these prepared with the help of computers for misusing these at the time of Army recruitment. The suspects have been identified as Prem Singh, alias Laddu, and Lakhbir Singh, an ex-serviceman, both from the Batala police district, and Amrik Singh, alias Fouji, another ex-serviceman. A case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered. |
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Pirated CDs seized, 4 held Barnala, December 18 Dr Narinder Bhargav, SSP, said today that the arrested had been identified as Prem Saadh Fakir, Vickey, Harmohan and Brij Lal, all residents of Dhanaula. Dr Bhargav said during raids conducted by the police on a complaint lodged by Satwant Singh, the police had seized 114 pirated CDs from Prem Saadh Fakir, 29 from Vickey, 147 CDs and three pornographic films from Harmohan and 262 pirated CDs and 12 pornographic films from Brij Lal. The SSP said the suspects had been booked under Sections 63, 65, and 68-A of the Copyright Act and Sections 420 and 292 of the IPC. He said the Sherpur police had seized 35 kg of Lahan, 10 kg of poppy husk and 14 bottles of illicit liquor from four persons, identified as Shambhu Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mahinder Kaur and Lachhman Singh. |
Lecture on peace and
harmony Patiala, December 18 The Vice-Chancellor Punjabi University, Sawarn Singh Boparai was the chief guest. While addressing the gathering, Dr Shiv Muni said all religions of the world were the same and that the same God resided in each human heart. It was essential for a faith community to be continually self-analytical, self critical through intra-religious dialogue so as to remain free from dogmatisation. He further stressed on welfare of humanity rather than following certain fixed rituals. He reiterated that religion strengthened the bonds of humanity and, therefore, religion and peace were inter-wedded and were a basic requirement for harmony. Dr Muni highly appreciated the university efforts to keep alive the old great intellectual traditions started by various pioneers of different faiths in the form of chairs dedicated to their thought and philosophy. He also ensured full support and cooperation to the university for starting a research project on Jainism. On the occasion, Mr Boparai also honoured the Acharya Samrat with the role of honour and a shawl and also released some books written by Dr Shiv Muni. The Head of the Department, Dr G.S. Sandhu, and Dr Dharam Singh of the Religious Studies Department were also present. |
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