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Charges framed against Sidhu
Patiala, March 24
District Sessions Judge S.N. Aggarwal today framed charges against former Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu and eight others, who have been accused in the much publicised cash-for-job scam in the PPSC.

Trial begins in Ravi Sidhu case
Chandigarh, January 29
Trial in the PPSC Chairman corruption case started today when main witness Bhupjit Singh deposed in the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr A.S. Kathuria, at Ropar today.

Sidhu challenges Jagman’s statement
Ropar, January 25
In a new development in the corruption case against former Chairman of the PPSC Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu, his counsel today challenged the statement of Jagman, one-time associate of Sidhu, as approver in the case.

HIGH COURT
PPSC scam: CBI seeks dismissal of plea
Chandigarh, January 16
Adding a twist to the controversy regarding the probe being conducted into the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam, the CBI today sought the dismissal of a petition seeking its intervention in the matter after claiming that the case had no inter-state ramifications.

• Lawyers ‘desert’ Sidhu over non-payment

PPSC examiners get bail
Patiala, January 14
The District and Sessions Court today accepted the regular bail application filed by three teachers accused of committing irregularities in the marking of answersheets of candidates sitting for various examinations during the tenure of Mr Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu under the Punjab Public Service Commission.

Sidhu case: SC returns reference
New Delhi, January 13
A presidential reference on the removal of former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu was today returned unanswered by the Supreme Court.

Order reserved in Sidhu case
New Delhi, January 9
The Supreme Court today reserved its order on a presidential reference by the Punjab Government seeking the court’s opinion on the removal of former Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, facing grave corruption charges.

Ravi’s arrest changed the image of judiciary
Chandigarh, December 25
It was on an evening in March when a ghost caller informed reporters about the “picking up” of Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu by the Punjab Vigilance Department from his residence in Sector 39.

Sidhu’s plea rejected
Patiala, December 24
A local court today rejected the application filed by former PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu demanding a copy of the order sanctioning his removal from the post by the President.

Statement recorded in Sidhu case
Chandigarh, December 17
The statement of an Inspector with the Punjab Vigilance, Mr Des Raj, was recorded today in a case registered against the suspended chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, under the Arms Act. The case was adjourned for January 11.

SC rejects Sidhu’s plea for trial outside Punjab
New Delhi, December 9
The Supreme Court today rejected the plea of former chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu for trial of corruption cases outside the state on the ground that he was being subjected to media trial with the police leaking his statements to newspapers.

PPSC SCAM
Probe panel report likely in a week
New Delhi, November 30
The high-level three-member committee constituted by the Chief Justice of India, Mr Justice G.B. Pattanaik to probe into the alleged acts of omission and commission of three judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the functioning of the PPSC is expected to submit its report in a week’s time.

HIGH COURT
Sidhu denied bail
Chandigarh, November 29
Punjab Public Service Commission’s former Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu’s petition seeking the grant of bail in a cheating and forgery case registered against him by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau was dismissed today by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court

HIGH COURT
Orders on Sidhu’s bail plea today
Chandigarh, November 28
Orders on a petition filed by Punjab Public Service Commission’s former Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu — seeking the grant of bail in a cheating and forgery case registered against him by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau — will be pronounced tomorrow by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Charges framed against Sidhu
Ropar, November 22
The court of Special Judge here today framed charges against Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu, former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, in the trap and disproportionate asset cases registered against him by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau at SAS Nagar.

Advocate files affidavit
Probe in PPSC recruitment scam
Chandigarh, November 16
Expressing dissatisfaction with the probe being conducted in the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam, Punjab and Haryana High Court advocate Rupinder Khosla today claimed that the excellent job done by the intelligence wing of the Punjab Police had been nullified. 

• 34 ‘tainted’ PCS nominees get bail

HIGH COURT
Notice issued to CBI
Chandigarh, October 31
Taking up a public interest litigation accusing the government of being involved in “operation-coverup”, instead of revealing the truth in the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the issuance of notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation after it was impleaded as a party.

List of PPCC executive given to Kidwai
Phagwara, October 31
A 51-member list of the PPCC executive committee had been submitted to Ms Mohsina Kidwai, in charge of Party’s Punjab affairs, for the approval of the Party High Command, according to Mr H.S. Hanspal, president, PPCC, here tonight.

PPSC scam: lawyers leave for Delhi
Chandigarh, October 29
In less than two days after a memorandum was signed by over 1,000 advocates of the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking presidential support for action on the basis of a report submitted by the high court’s former Chief Justice Arun B. Saharya on the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) recruitment scam, a group of lawyers today left for Delhi to meet the members of the Committee on Judicial Accountability.

PPSC scam: memo sent to CJI
Chandigarh, October 27
A memorandum signed by over 1000 members of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has been sent to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), all sitting judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of all High Courts highlighting “the case of three sitting judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court who have been indicted by a former Chief Justice of the High Court, Mr A.B. Saharya, in the Punjab Public Service Commission scam”.

PPSC gearing up to retest ‘tainted’ men 
Jalandhar, October 27
The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has not received any communication from the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the latter’s reported move to conduct a re-examination of the entire batch of 39 “tainted” PCS (judicial) officers, even as the commission is gearing up to conduct the re-examination of such officers.

• Sidhu case: next hearing on Oct 29

DISTRICT COURTS
Excise Act case against Sidhu: hearing on Oct 30
Chandigarh, October 23
Hearing of a case registered against suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu under the Excise Act was fixed for consideration of the charges for October 30 by a local court. Meanwhile, the court has also fixed the hearing to record the evidence under the Arms Act registered against Sidhu for November 11.

Case against Sidhu adjourned
Chandigarh, October 10
A local court today adjourned a case against the suspended from Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, under the Excise Act till October 23. The city police also supplied a copy of challan to the defence counsel.

JOBS-FOR-CASH SCAM
Reply to Sidhu’s plea filed
Ropar, October 9
The prosecution today filed reply in a court today to the application of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, former Chairman of the PPSC, vide which Sidhu had sought his discharge for want of valid sanction by the competent authority — the President of India to prosecute him in the disproportionate assets cases.

Sidhu’s remand extended
Chandigarh, September 30
The suspended Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, was today further remanded in judicial custody till October 10 by a local court in a case under the Excise Act registered against him at the Sector 39 police station.

Sidhu’s application on jurisdiction dismissed
Ropar, September 28
Mr A.S. Kathuria, Special Judge, today dismissed the application filed by former PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu with regard to his discharge for want of territorial jurisdiction in the trap case.

Decision arbitrary: PCS officers
Chandigarh, September 28
Some of the PCS (Judicial) officers, belonging to 1999 and 2000 batches, want the decision to remove them from service to be reviewed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Punjab Government.

39 judicial officers removed
Chandigarh, September 27
The Punjab Government today removed 39 PCS (Judicial) officers from service in compliance with the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

State to make back reference to HC
Removal of 1998 batch PCS (Judicial) officers
Chandigarh, September 26
The Punjab Government has decided to make a back reference to the Punjab and Haryana High Court to seek certain clarifications and make queries in respect of the removal from service of PCS (Judicial) officers of the 1998 batch.

Sidhu contests court’s jurisdiction
Ropar, September 23
Arguments on an application filed by the counsel for former PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu with regard to his discharge for want of territorial jurisdiction led the proceedings in the bribery case in the court of the Special Judge, Mr A.S. Kathuria, here today.

PPSC scam: defence counsel’s plea on jurisdiction
Ropar, September 21
The court of the Special Judge, Mr A.S. Katuria, today fixed September 23 as the next date of hearing in connection with the trial of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu. During the proceedings, counsel for Sidhu today submitted an application in the court to discharge Sidhu for want of territorial jurisdiction.

• Plea to appoint PSS officers

Sidhu bail plea hearing on Sept 23
Patiala, September 20
District and Sessions Judge S.N. Aggarwal today put the bail application filed by former PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu for consideration for September 23 even as anticipatory bail applications filed by “tainted” candidates will be heard next week.

Supplementary challan against Sidhu put up
Patiala, September 19
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today presented supplementary challan against former PPSC chief Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu and 11 others with regard to the case registered against them under FIR number 24 here.

• PPSC scam: KU professor gets bail

Sleuths keep vigil on recruitments
Chandigarh, September 19
Punjab Vigilance Bureau sleuths kept a close watch on the recruitment of Excise and Taxation Inspectors, which concluded at Patiala today, it is reliably learnt.

Badal may face music
Cook’s son in Vigilance net
Patiala, September 16
The Punjab Vigilance Department may bring former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the ambit of the PPSC scam with a case being registered against the son of the former Chief Minister’s cook for using influence to get selected as a DSP.

• Copies of documents given to Sidhu

• 3 ‘tainted’ PCS nominees seek bail

‘Tainted’ PCS nominee’s arrest stayed
Patiala, September 13
A court here today stayed the arrest of “tainted” former PCS (Executive) nominee Kamal Kumar Garg, one among those booked recently under the Prevention of Corruption Act by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau.

Sangra sworn in as PPSC chief
Chandigarh, September 12
Lt-Gen Surjit Singh Sangra (Retd) was sworn in as Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan today. The oath of office and was administered by the Governor, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd).

‘Agent’ of Pherurai arrested
Computer of former SSP seized
Ludhiana, September 12
Tightening its noose around former SSP of Ferozepore, Gurcharan Singh Pherurai, the Raikot police is learnt to have arrested a commission agent (arhtiya), who reportedly used to finance the accused’s money in the market.

Examiner’s arrest stayed
Patiala, September 12
The District and Sessions Court today stayed the arrest of Kurukshetra University Punjabi Professor, Dr Amarjit Singh Kang, who has been accused of tampering with answersheets of candidates appearing for various examinations conducted by the Punjab Public Service Commission till September 19.

DISTRICT COURTS
Sidhu's bail plea dismissed
Chandigarh, September 11
The bail plea moved by the suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, under the Arms Act was today dismissed by a local court. The court has also rejected the plea moved by Sidhu to get the translated copy of the police challan in the English language.

Bail for PPSC ex-Secretary
Chandigarh, September 11
Punjab Public Service Commission’s former Secretary Pritpal Singh was today granted bail in a cheating case by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Delivering the verdict on his bail application, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Kiran Anand Lall, directed that the petitioner should be released on bail subject to his furnishing bail bond of Rs 1 lakh, along with two sureties of Rs 50,000 each, to the satisfaction of Patiala’s Sessions Judge.

DISTRICT COURTS
Order reserved on Sidhu’s bail plea
Chandigarh, September 10
A local court today reserved order on the bail plea of the suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, under the Arms Act till tomorrow. The case against the accused was registered under the Excise Act and the Arms Act after the recovery of 14 bottles of foreign liquor, 250 rounds of .12-bore gun and 225 rounds of the Springfield rifle from his house in Sector 39.

Bhupjit Singh feels ‘abandoned’
PPSC recruitment scam
Chandigarh, September 10
Unprecedented appreciation, besides publicity, in the ongoing “recruitment scam” notwithstanding, there are not many who have volunteered to help the State agencies, including the Vigilance Bureau, nab the known “corrupt” civil or public servants, including politicians, through traps.

President’s nod to prosecute Sidhu
Patiala, September 9
The Vigilance Bureau has received sanction to prosecute suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu from the office of the President.

Ex-SSP Pherurai booked in corruption case
Possesses wealth, property much beyond his means
Raikot, September 9
Two days after the state Vigilance Bureau registered cases against the son and daughter of former SSP Gurcharan Singh Pherurai for using money to get a job through the PPSC, the Raikot police has registered a fresh case against the former SSP under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

We are being persecuted: PPSC scam victims
Harish Salve to represent Punjab state
Chandigarh, September 8
“We are innocent. We got these jobs purely on our outstanding merit and track record. But because of a ‘tainted’ few, we are being persecuted,” allege PCS (Judicial Branch), PCS (Allied Services) and Engineers (PWD — B&R and Irrigation), whose services have either already been dispensed with or are being dispensed with in the “recruitment scam” as the Punjab Government has decided to engage Mr Harish Salve, Solicitor-General, in the case the hearing of which starts tomorrow.

• Vigilance raids on Pherurai’s residences

35 ‘tainted’ PCS nominees booked
Patiala, September 7
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has registered cases against nearly 35 ‘tainted’ candidates, selected for various PCS posts (Executive), PCS (Judicial) and PCS (Allied) besides BDPOs, including Amol Gill, daughter of Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Amarbir Singh Gill, and Rahul Gupta, son of former PPSC member T.C. Gupta.

Sidhu’s plea on translated copies rejected
Allowed to withdraw Rs 50,000
Ropar, September 7
Mr A.S. Kathuria, Special Judge, here today rejected the application of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended PPSC Chairman in connection with the translation of copies of challan and other documents presented against him by the prosecution in the court.

• Rally by those selected during Sidhu’s tenure

Lawyers end boycott
Chandigarh, September 6
In just over a week after the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association resolved to boycott the court of the High Court Chief Justice for restoring work to three Judges, the members today reversed their decision and called off the boycott.

Formalities to sack 39 PCS officers completed
Chandigarh, September 6
The Punjab Government has almost completed all formalities to sack 39 PCS (Judicial) officers, selected by the PPSC during the tenure of Mr Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu, as its Chairman.

5 cases filed against PPSC candidates
Patiala, September 6
Taking action against tainted candidates who had paid money to bag jobs through the Punjab Public Service Commission, the state Vigilance Bureau today registered five cases against different categories of candidates at the vigilance police station here today.

Lawyers approach CJI
Chandigarh, September 5
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association members today requested the Chief Justice of India to read on a priority basis the report of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice on the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam and take “desired legal action as per law”.

Hearing on Sidhu’s pleas tomorrow
Ropar, September 5
Mr A.S. Kathuria, Special Judge, here today fixed September 7 for further proceedings on the applications moved by Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended Chairman, Punjab Public Service Commission.

Hearing on Sidhu’s plea tomorrow
Ropar, September 3
Mr A.S. Kathuria, Special Judge, Ropar, today fixed September 5 for hearing further arguments on the application of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended PPSC Chairman, seeking English translation of the copies of the challan and other documents on the plea that Sidhu could not read or write Punjabi.

Fresh exams for vacant PPSC posts soon
Jalandhar, August 30
The acting Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Lieut-Gen Surjit Singh (retd), today declared that the commission would conduct a fresh examinations for the selection of candidates to those posts which were lying vacant after the removal of the officials appointed during the tenure of PPSC former Chairman Ravi Sidhu by the state government.

Lawyers boycott  CJI visit
Chandigarh, August 29
In less than 24 hours after the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association unanimously resolved to boycott the court of the High Court Chief Justice for restoring work to three Judges, the lawyers did not appear before him to argue their cases. Though the Chief Justice, Mr Arun B. Saharya, was present, the lawyers entered the courtroom only for requesting him to fix matters, urgent in nature, for hearing today itself.

Bar reacts strongly
Restoration of work to three Judges
Chandigarh, August 28
In just over 24 hours after work was restored to three High Court Judges, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association today unanimously resolved to boycott the court of the High Court Chief Justice for restoring work, as also the visit of the Chief Justice of India to the city on Thursday and to Hoshiarpur the next day.

TRIBUNE SPECIAL
CJ’s report ‘indicts’ three HC judges
New Delhi, August 28
A day before he restored work to three High Court Judges said to be involved in the Punjab Public Service Commission scam, Mr Justice Arun B. Saharya, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, handed over his final inquiry report into the matter to the Chief Justice of India here on August 26.

Work restored to 3 HC judges
Chandigarh, August 27
In less than two months after work was withdrawn from Mr Justice Amar Bir Singh Gill, Mr Justice M.L. Singhal and Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice Arun B. Saharya today announced its restoration. Though officials in the High Court are maintaining silence over the issue, sources confirm that announcement to this effect was made during a 15-minute formal meeting held with the Judges during the lunch hour.

Sidhu files plea for translation of court papers
Ropar, August 27
Giving a new turn to the corruption case against him, former Chairman of the PPSC Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu has moved an application before the Special Judge, Ropar, Mr Kathuria, pleading that he did not know Punjabi.

• Sack of PPSC-chosen engineers opposed

Ravi Sidhu moves bail application
Patiala, August 26
Former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Ravi Sidhu has moved a bail application in the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge.

“We are punished for  no fault of ours”
Chandigarh, August 25
“If the present Congress Government is ready to face the electorate again, we will happily take a retest for those remaining in service,” rue PPSC appointees facing the sack.

Sack orders may mar marriage vows
Amritsar, August 25
The sacking of PCS Officers, including judicial, allied and others, has unexpected fallout. The development may lead to matrimonial disputes in certain cases. It is common belief that the in-laws of the officers had spent huge money on the marriage of their daughters. A good amount of dowry was also given depending upon the status of the officers.

HIGH COURT
Produce record of CJ officers’ shifting
Chandigarh, August 22
In less than a month after a letter was written by the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the transfer of “key officers”, a Division Bench of the court today asked the state of Punjab to be ready with the record pertaining to the shifting of two officers attached with the CJ for assistance in the PPSC scam probe.

Judicial officers seek justice
Ludhiana, August 20
Reacting to the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to terminate their services, some of the 39 judicial officers, who held a meeting here today regretted that they were “convicted without a trial and not given a chance to be heard”.

• PPSC scam accused given challan copies

Sidhu case: SC order to Solicitor-General
New Delhi, August 19
The Supreme Court today directed Solicitor-General Harish Salve appearing for the Punjab Government to file within two weeks the response affidavit of the State on the Presidential reference under Article 371 (1) of the Constitution for inquiry of the charges against Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu.

• 3 ex-PSSSB members get bail

PPSC scam: Sodhi granted bail
Patiala, August 17
Former PCS officer Purushottam Singh Sodhi, who had been arrested for allegedly paying a bribe of Rs 15 lakh to the suspended PPSC Chairman Ravi Sidhu through the latter’s former tout Randhir Singh Dheera for nomination to the PCS (allied), was granted regular bail by Sessions Judge S.N. Aggarwal here today.

Sidhu’s resignation rejected
Chandigarh, August 16
The Punjab Government has rejected the resignation of suspended PPSC Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu. Informed official sources said “the state government wanted that Sidhu should be removed from office by ordering his dismissal”. So in the light of this, there was no question of accepting his resignation.

Ravi Sidhu resigns
Chandigarh, August 14
The Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), has forwarded the resignation of suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu to the Punjab Government. Official sources in the Punjab Raj Bhavan said today that Sidhu’s resignation had been sent to Chief Secretary Y.S. Ratra.

• Sidhu’s judicial remand extended
• Sidhu’s conduit gets bail

Work withdrawn from 39 Sidhu appointees
Chandigarh, August 13
Weeks after an inquiry was initiated by the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, work was withdrawn from 39 PCS judicial officers, including the daughter of a High Court Judge, Mr Justice Amar Bir Singh Gill.

PSSSB member gets bail
Kharar, August 13
District and Sessions Judge Maghar Khan today granted bail to a former Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board member Kulbir Singh Randhawa in a case of forgery, cheating, criminal conspiracy, corruption and amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income registered against him by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau at Mohali police station on July 12.

Vigilance Bureau submits report on PPSC scam
Chandigarh, August 13
The Vigilance Bureau has submitted its report on the PPSC recruitment scam to the Punjab Government for further action, Mr A.P. Pandey, ADGP and Director of the Bureau, said in a statement today.

Sidhu offers to resign
File affidavit, says Supreme Court
New Delhi, August 12
The suspended Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, expressed his desire to resign from the post on his own before the Supreme Court here.

PPSC SCAM
Ex-PCS officer nabbed
Former SSP Pherurai eludes arrest
Patiala, August 11
The Patiala Vigilance Police conducted raids at many places in Chandigarh last night, including the residences of former PCS, DSP and other officers, who had got selected by bribing the then PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu and arrested former PCS officer Purshottam Singh Sodhi.

Sidhu given copy of challan
Ropar, August 8
The court of the Special Judge here today supplied copies of challan to Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended PPSC Chairman, and Shamsher Singh alleged tout of Sidhu.

Another challan against Sidhu
Ropar, August 6
The Punjab Vigilance authorities today presented another challan in the court of the Sessions Judge, Mr Maghar Khan, here against Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Hearing in Sidhu case on Aug 8
Ropar, August 5
Mr A.S. Kathuria, Special Judge, here today fixed August 8 as the next date of hearing for supplying copies of the documents relating to challan to Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended PPSC chairman.

Warrants against ex-chief of PSSSB
Kharar, August 5
Mr Roshan Lal Chouhan, Judicial Magistrate, Kharar, today issued non-bailable warrants against Tejinderpal Singh Sandhu, former Chairman of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board for August 14.

We deserved our posts, say 4 ATPs
Chandigarh, August 1
“We have been selected on the basis of our outstanding academic and professional record. Enlisting our batch among the tainted ones is great injustice with us”. This is how four Assistant Town Planners (ATPs) of the 1999 batch selected by the PPSC have reacted to the reports that their batch is to be sacked.

Intelligence transfers hampered probe
High Court CJ writes to Punjab Governor
Chandigarh, July 31
In a significant development, the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice Arun B.Saharya, has stated that the transfer of Mr A.P. Bhatnagar and other “key officers” of the Intelligence Wing by the Punjab Government on June 27 “hampered the probe” being conducted by him into the involvement of certain high court Judges in the PPSC scam.

Sidhu’s mother, brother declared POs
Patiala, July 30
A local court today declared relatives of suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, including his mother Pritpal Kaur, brother Reetinder Singh and sister-in-law Ajinder Kaur as proclaimed offenders even as former Secretary of the commission, Pritpal Singh, filed an application for regular bail in the same case.

HIGH COURT
PPSC scam: produce answer sheets
Chandigarh, July 29
Taking up a bunch of applications filed in connection with the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the state of Punjab and other respondents to be ready with the record, including answer sheets of all candidates.

PPSC SCAM: FOLLOW-UP
I was obstructed: Bhatnagar; hits out at Vigilance Bureau
Chandigarh, July 28
If his reply to the disciplinary show-cause notice served on him earlier this month is any indication, the Punjab Government has clearly failed to subdue its former Intelligence chief and now ADGP (Security), Mr A.P. Bhatnagar, in the Punjab Public Service Commission case.

Sidhu’s plea dismissed
Chandigarh, July 27
A local court today dismissed the plea moved by the suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, to direct the Punjab and Sind Bank to issue him 10 loose cheques to fulfill his daily needs. Earlier, on July 22 the Punjab and Sind Bank had maintained before the court that the bank could not issue loose cheques to Sidhu as his account had already been frozen by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau.

Sidhu case: Punjab issued notice
Kharar, July 26
Mr Roshan Lal Chouhan, Judicial Magistrate, here today issued notice to Punjab for July 27 in an application moved by the counsel of Gurdeep Singh Manchanda who was arrested by the Vigilance on the charge of sending money belonging to Ravi Sidhu, suspended Chairman of the PPSC, abroad through hawala transactions for granting bail.

PPSC scam: Dheera, Sagar pardoned
Patiala, July 25
The District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.N. Aggarwal, today granted pardon to Randhir Singh Dheera and Prem Sagar, main accused in the PPSC scam, after examining statements made by them yesterday under Section 306 to become approvers in the case.

Wahid’s lockers opened
Phagwara, July 25
A Vigilance team tonight opened two lockers of Jarnail Singh Wahid, a former member of the PSSSB, in the local Kapurthala Central Cooperative Bank and recovered gold and silver jewellery worth over Rs 1 lakh, a licensed revolver, 14 cartridges, two passports and shares of Rs 500.

Probe Badal-Sidhu ‘nexus’: Ravi Inder
Chandigarh, July 24
Urging the Punjab Government to probe the “nexus” between former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, a former Punjab Speaker, Mr Ravi Inder Singh, said today that this aspect had not been touched by government investigating agencies so far.

• Ravi Sidhu gets copy of challan

Dheera, Sagar implicate Sidhu
Record statements in Patiala court
Patiala, July 23
Two touts of suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu, Randhir Singh Dheera and Prem Sagar, who today recorded statements under Section 306 CrPC in a bid to turn government approvers against their former “boss”, have both implicated Sidhu in their statements claiming the latter had asked them to solicit bribes for him in return for jobs in the State Civil and Judicial Services besides other posts advertised by the PPSC.

‘Transfer PPSC scam to CBI’
Chandigarh, July 22
Acting on a petition filed by an advocate seeking the transfer of the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Kiran Anand Lall of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab, the Home Secretary, the Director General of Police and two other respondents for August 5.

CJ’s order on work withdrawal contested
Chandigarh, July 22
Challenging the orders directing the withdrawal of work from three Punjab and Haryana High Court Judges, a city advocate today claimed that the same were passed without jurisdiction.

DISTRICT COURTS
Sidhu’s plea on loose cheques rejected
Chandigarh, July 22
The Punjab and Sind Bank in its reply, acting on an application moved by the suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, today maintained in a local court that the bank could not issue loose cheques to Sidhu as his account had already been frozen by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau.

• Court remand for Sidhu’s associate

Decision on Dheera statement today
Patiala, July 22
District and Sessions Judge S.N. Aggarwal today postponed till tomorrow the announcement of the decision on whether PPSC job scam accused Randhir Singh Dheera and Prem Sagar could give their statement under Section 306, CrPC, to turn approve in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Paramjit Singh tomorrow.

DISTRICT COURTS
Sidhu’s remand extended
Chandigarh, July 20
Suspended Punjab Public Service Commission chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, was today further remanded in judicial custody under the Excise Act by a local court. The accused was produced in the court of the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Sanjay Sandhir, who remanded him in judicial custody till August 2.

Hearing on Dheera, Sagar’s plea adjourned
Patiala, July 20
The District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.N. Aggarwal, today adjourned the hearing for July 22 on an application submitted by Randhir Singh Dheera and Prem Sagar, alleged touts of suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, to record their statements as approvers.

Police remand for ex-members of PSSSB
Kharar, July 19
Four former members of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board namely Kulbir Singh Randhawa, Munawer Masih, Jarnail Singh and Ashoke Loomba, who had been arrested by the Vigilance Department, were remanded in police custody till July 23 today by Mr Roshan Lal Chouhan, Judicial Magistrate here.

Dheera, Sagar to record statements today
Patiala, July 19
Two of the prime accused in the PPSC job-for-money scam, Randhir Dheera and Prem Sagar, will appear before the sessions court here tomorrow to record their statements as approvers.

Dheera, Sagar turn approvers
Patiala, July 18
Randhir Singh Dheera and Prem Sagar alleged ‘touts’ of suspended Chairman of the PPSC Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu today submitted an application in a court here seeking permission to turn approver in a criminal case registered against them on April 30 at Patiala.

• Docs form panel to fight removal
• Gold seized from locker of PSSSB member’s wife

Dheera gets bail, may turn approver
Patiala, July 17
Vigilance Bureau officials today took Randhir Singh Dheera, key accused in the PPSC’s jobs for sale scam, into custody allegedly without authority immediately after he was released from the Central Jail here. Vigilance officials, including DSP, Vigilance, Ludhiana Sarup Singh, and DSP, Vigilance, Mohali Surjit Singh Khosa today posted themselves outside the Central Jail in early morning.

High Court Bar supports CJ’s action
Chandigarh, July 17
Accusing the Punjab government of pushing the PPSC recruitment scandal under the carpet of secrecy, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association today demanded that the officers transferred out of the intelligence wing should be shifted back immediately.

Sidhu’s remand extended
Patiala, July 17
Suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu’s judicial remand was extended till July 26 by District and Sessions Judge S. N. Aggarwal here today. Sidhu’s advocate Sahib Singh Dhindsa filed an application, seeking permission to meet his client for two hours before he was taken back to jail whenever he came for court hearing, but the Sessions Judge allowed him to meet Sidhu for one hour after every hearing.

PPSC ignored merit: charge sheet
Patiala, July 16
The state Vigilance Department has accused a PPSC member of playing a dubious role in the interview of candidates for the PCS (Executive) and Allied Services examination of 1998 by giving the same marks as awarded by the suspended Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu to “tainted” candidates.

Ravi Sidhu’s kin proclaimed offenders
Kharar, July 15
Mr Roshan Lal Chouhan, Judicial Magistrate, today declared three family members of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, former PPSC Chairman, proclaimed offenders and ordered that the SSP Ropar, should include their names in the list of proclaimed offenders.

Notice to Chief Secy on Sidhu’s belongings
Chandigarh, July 15
A local court today issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Punjab and SP Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, to file a reply acting on an application moved by the suspended Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu.

Challan presented against Sidhu
Ropar, July 13
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today presented a challan in the court of Sessions Judge in charge, Mr J. S. Khushdil, here, against Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, in a corruption case registered against him vide PIR No 7 on March 25.

Police remand for 2 ‘touts’ of Sidhu
Kharar, July 13
Mr Roshan Lal Chouhan, Judicial Magistrate, today remanded Dr Shamsher Singh and Gurdeep Singh Manchanda, two alleged accomplices of Ravi Sidhu, former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, in police remand till July 18. Both the accused yesterday surrendered before the court and they were remanded in judicial custody till today.

SIDHU AFFAIRS
Punjab defers ordinance on tainted appointees
Chandigarh, July 12
Taking no chances on an important and sensitive issue of setting aside “tainted” appointments “ made on the recommendations of the PPSC during the term of Mr Ravi Sidhu as its Chairman, the Punjab Government decided to reconsider the draft of the ordinance it wanted to be approved at a meeting of the Council of Ministers today.

2 accomplices of Sidhu surrender
Kharar, July 12
Two alleged accomplices of Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu, former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Shamsher Singh and Gurdeep Singh Manchanda, surrendered before Mr Roshan Lal Chouhan, Judicial Magistrate, Kharar, today.

Charge sheet filed against Sidhu
Vigilance submits 45 tampered answer sheets
Patiala, July 12
The Vigilance Department today filed a charge sheet against suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu and his three alleged touts, two examiners and former Secretary Pritpal Singh in the Sessions Court here besides submitting 45 answer sheets of nine PCS (Judicial) candidates, including that of Amol Gill, daughter of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Amarbir Singh Gill.

Dheera prefers jail fearing rearrest
Patiala, July 11
Suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu’s alleged tout Randhir Singh Dheera continues to remain in the Central Jail here as he preferred not to furnish bail bonds in a case registered against him, fearing rearrest by the Vigilance Department. Sources said even though Dheera’s counsel went to Ropar to furnish bail bonds they were not furnished because a Vigilance team from Ludhiana had reached there.

Sidhu’s kin furnish fresh bail bonds
Ropar, July 11
Mr Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, who yesterday withdrew bail bonds of Rs 5 lakh furnished by him for the release of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended Chairman of the PPSC today again filed an application in the court of the Special Judge here for furnishing fresh bail bonds for the release of Sidhu.

Amol Gill’s answersheet was not evaluated
Patiala, July 10
The Punjab Vigilance Department today produced another answersheet of Amol Gill, daughter of Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge, Justice Amarbir Singh Gill, showing marks recorded on the title page even though the answersheet had not been evaluated.

Withdrawal of surety allowed in Sidhu case
Ropar, July 10
Mr A. S. Kathuria, Special Judge, Ropar, today allowed the application moved by Mr Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, surety, for the withdrawal of bail bonds furnished by him for the release of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, on bail in a case registered against Sidhu by the Vigilance Bureau on March 25 at SAS Nagar.

• Ravi Sidhu’s ‘touts’ granted regular bail

• PCMS docs decry govt move

Charge sheet against Sidhu soon
Patiala, July 9
The state Vigilance Department is likely to file a charge sheet against suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu by the end of this week. Disclosing this, sources said a decision had been taken by the Vigilance to file the charge sheet as soon as it was able to get more lead in the case after the arrest of former PPSC Secretary Pritpal Singh. They said the department was able to make connections that Pritpal had acted at the behest of the suspended Chairman.

Sidhu’s remand extended
Chandigarh, July 8
The suspended Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, was further remanded in judicial custody by a local court under the Excise Act today. Sidhu was produced in the court of the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Sanjay Sandhir, who remanded him in judicial custody till July 20.

Pritpal in police custody
Patiala, July 7
A local court today remanded PPSC former Secretary Pritpal Singh to police custody till July 10 following a statement by the State Vigilance Department that he used to take answersheets from his Superintendent and approach examiners to increase marks of selective candidates on one pretext or the other.

PPSC ex-Secy arrested
Chandigarh, July 6
After dilly-dallying for several weeks, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau today formally arrested former Secretary of the Punjab Public Service Commission Pritpal Singh in the job-for-cash scam. 

• Notice to state in PPSC scam

PPSC scam: process to remove tainted ones on
Chandigarh, July 5
The process to remove the entire batch of the PCS (Executive) and allied services of 1999 and other tainted batches of candidates selected to various cadres during the tenure of suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu has been set in motion.

• PPSC case: teacher’s arrest stayed

PPSC lists were tampered with: experts
Ludhiana, July 4
Investigations into the PPSC’s jobs for sale scam have established that not even a single list of candidates those, finalised by Ravi Sidhu as well as those by the examiners is without tampering.

PPSC ex-secy ‘influenced’ examiners
Patiala, July 4
Needle of suspicion in the PPSC’s jobs for-sale scam today again pointed towards former PPSC Secretary Pritpal Singh with accused Professor of Law Dr Gurpal Singh stating he had made overwritings and increased score in some answer sheets of PCS (Judicial) examination at the behest of Pritpal Singh.

HIGH COURT
Petitioner told to approach Sessions Court
Bank manager’s pre-arrest bail application
Chandigarh, July 4
Disposing of a petition for the grant of anticipatory bail filed by a bank manager accused of sending illegally earned money to foreign countries through the hawala channel in the PPSC scam, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked him to “approach the Sessions Court in the first instance”.

PPSC scam: police remand for 2 teachers
Patiala, July 3
A local court today remanded two teachers, arrested by the Vigilance Department yesterday on charges of indulging in biased marking of answer sheets of examinations of the PCS (Executive) and PCS (Judicial) at the behest of suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinderpaul Singh Sidhu, in police custody for a day.

Sidhu's revision plea adjourned
Chandigarh, July 2
District and Sessions Judge S.N. Aggarwal today adjourned the hearing of the revision petition filed by defence counsel of suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu to July 4.

Sidhu’s police remand extended
Patiala, July 1
A court here today extended police remand of suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu till July 4 as Sidhu’s counsel filed a fresh petition challenging the remand order given on June 27.

• Production warrant against Sidhu

HIGH COURT
Notice issued to Punjab on Jagman’s bail plea
Chandigarh, June 27
Taking up a petition filed by approver in the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam Jagman Singh seeking the grant of interim bail, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab for July 3.

Sidhu aide released on bail
Ropar, June 27
After Ravi Sidhu, former PPSC Chairman, got bail yesterday, another accused in the case, Surinder Kaur Manchanda, was granted bail today on similar grounds. The District and Sessions Judge, Ropar, Mr Maghar Khan, released Surinder Manchanda, wife of a retired bank official accused of helping Sidhu in hawala transactions, on a bail bond of Rs 2 lakh and an equal amount as security.

Ravi Sidhu granted bail
Ropar, June 26
Mr Maghar Khan, Sessions Judge, today granted bail to the suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu in a case registered against him by the Vigilance Bureau under the Prevention of Corruption Act. 

     Ravi Sidhu files revision plea

Sidhu’s judicial remand extended
Chandigarh, June 25
The suspended PPSC Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, was today further remanded in judicial custody under the Arms Act till June 30 and under the Excise Act till July 8, respectively, by the UT Judicial Magistrate, Mr S. S Bhardwaj.

• Judicial remand for Sidhu’s aide

Ravi Sidhu formally re-arrested
Ropar, June 22
Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, who is in judicial custody, was today formally rearrested by the Vigilance authorities under the newly added Sections 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC to the FIR registered against him on March 25 under the Prevention of Corruption Act at SAS Nagar.

• Notice to govt in bail case
• Bedi’s police remand extended

Police allowed to record Ravi Sidhu’s arrest
Ropar, June 21
Mr Kuldip Singh, in charge Sessions Judge, Ropar, today ordered the police that it, if so desired, could record the formal arrest of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, present in the court, under Sections 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC.

• Remand extended
• Production warrants against Sidhu

BJP distances itself from Akalis over graft
Chandigarh, June 20
The Punjab BJP today distanced itself from the multicrore-rupee PPSC recruitment scam and corruption cases against former ministers belonging to its alliance partner, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), saying that it had, in fact, warned former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal against the rampant corruption in the state.

• Order to produce Sidhu before Special Judge
• Jagman again denied bail
• Vigilance seeks Sidhu’s production warrant

Surjit is PPSC acting chief
Patiala, June 19
The Punjab Government has appointed Lieut-Gen Surjit Singh (retd), who had earlier joined as Member of the Punjab Public Service Commission, as Acting Chairman of the commission. Sources said a letter to this effect had been received at the PPSC headquarters today.

• Sidhu aide gets police remand

Jagman’s wife allowed to meet him in jail
Ropar, June 18
Mr Maghar Khan, Sessions Judge, today allowed Ms Jasjot Kaur, wife of Jagman Singh, an accused in the PPSC recruitment scam case, to meet her husband along with her father, Mr G.S. Mangat, in the local sub-jail. Jagman is currently lodged in the sub-jail here as he is in judicial custody till July 1.

• PPSC scam: remand of 3 extended

Remand of Jagman, Pamma extended
Ropar, June 17
The judicial remand of Jagman Singh, a tout of suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, was today extended in the PPSC recruitment scam case till July 1 by Sessions Judge Maghar Khan.

Sidhu’s remand extended
Ropar, June 15
Mr A.S. Kathuria, Special Judge, Ropar, today extended the judicial remand of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu till June 22 in the PPSC recruitment scam. Sidhu was produced in the court of Special Judge after the expiry of his earlier judicial remand today.

Notice to govt on Jagman’s bail plea
Ropar, June 15
The Ropar Special Judge, Mr A.S. Kathuria, today issued notice to the state government for June 18 on the interim bail application of Jagman Singh, a right hand man of suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu and an alleged accused in the PPSC recruitment scam.

ARMS ACT
Charges against Sidhu framed
Chandigarh, June 12
A local court today framed charges against suspended Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu under the Arms Act.

PCMS doctors wear black badges
Patiala, June 12
In response to a call given by the PCMS Association, Punjab, PCMS doctors here wore black badges yesterday in protest against the possible blanket decision by the Punjab Government to terminate the services of all 872 doctors selected during the tenure of PPSC chairman Ravi Sidhu and also against the possible decision of the Finance Committee to abolish non-practice allowance from their pay.

Challan against Sidhu in arms case
Brother, mother summoned
Chandigarh, June 8
The UT police today filed a challan against the suspended PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, under the Arms Act case registered against him in a local court. 

Sidhu refuses to accept suspension order
Chandigarh, June 7
The suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu, has refused to acknowledge the receipt of his suspension order. According to reliable sources, the orders of the Governor were sent to him through a team of vigilance officials, doctors and a duty magistrate at the Patiala jail where he is at present lodged.

Acting PPSC chief to revive faith
Lucknow, June 7
Acting chairperson of the Punjab Public Service Commission Ms Harjit Kaur Randhawa, says her main aim will be to revive people’s faith in the commission, tarnished after the suspension of PPSC chairman Ravindra Pal Singh Sidhu following charges of corruption.

Farm technocrats threaten stir
Ludhiana, June 7
The Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee, Punjab has criticised the state government for its proposal to terminate the services of Agricultural Development Officers and Horticulture Development Officers recruited during the tenure of PPSC chief Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, calling the development as “illogical as only meritorious and capable candidates were selected and there was no evidence indicating any foul play and nobody challenged the selection in the court.”

Ravi Sidhu suspended
Chandigarh, June 5
The Governor of Punjab, Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), today suspended Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu. The Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr Y.S. Ratra, said that the Governor exercised his powers under Clause 2 of Article 317 of the Constitution to suspend him.

Is Ravi Sidhu entitled to ‘B’ class ?
Chandigarh, June 5
Is the suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), Ravi Sidhu, entitled to Better Class (“B”) facilities which he has been enjoying in the Patiala jail ?

Dheera names 13 candidates
Bribes in PPSC recruitment scam
Patiala, June 5
Prime accused in the PPSC recruitment scam — Randhir Singh Dheera today listed 13 candidates, including nine who paid to get into the PCS (Executive), in a supplementary statement filed before a local court under Section 164 of the CrPC even as he continued to be quiet on names of candidates of members of the judiciary or other important persons who had figured in revelations earlier.

PPSC rejects unite to get justice
Bathinda, June 5
Even as some of the recently sacked PCS officers are trying to gain public sympathy through the media by claiming that their selection was fair, a number of candidates who were rejected by the PPSC during tenure of Mr Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu, Chairman, allegedly due to corruption, have decided to launch a campaign to counter the sympathy wave.

‘Make distinction between tainted & meritorious’
Chandigarh, June 4
“Why is the government treating us on a par with ‘tainted’ people? If we have done anything wrong, hang us. But do not kill us in cold blood,” rue a score of young technocrats, including both doctors and engineers, apprehending the “sack” because they were recruited by the Punjab Public Service Commission headed by Ravi Sidhu.

DISTRICT COURTS
Bail plea of Ravinder Sidhu dismissed
Chandigarh, June 4 
A bail plea moved by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, under the Excise Act was today dismissed by a local court. It was the third time that a bail plea moved by the accused under the Arms Act was dismissed by the court.

• PAs of Langah remanded

PPSC scam: forum to ensure fair probe
Chandigarh, June 1
In less than 24 hours after a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that Common Cause Forum — a social organisation — had the right to seek information in the PPSC recruitment scandal, its members today held a press conference to say that they would now work towards ensuring that the investigation did not get derailed because of the differences between the Punjab Vigilance Bureau and the Intelligence Wing of the Punjab Police.

• PPSC chief’s bail plea rejected

PPSC SCAM
HC upholds right to know
Ban on media disclosure set aside
Chandigarh, May 31
Lifting the veil of secrecy, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ruled that “there was no valid reason for imposing any restriction, much less a ban, on the publication of news items and reports on the progress of investigation being conducted by various agencies of the Punjab Government into what is being described as the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam”.

• Stand vindicated

HIGH COURT
No stay for removed PCS officers
Chandigarh, May 31
In just over a week after the Punjab Government decided to either revert or dispense with the services of certain PCS officers, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today refused to stay the operation of the orders in this regard.

• PCMS doctors hold dharna
• PPSC chief’s remand extended

PPSC case: Trivedi to defend Punjab
Chandigarh, May 30
Additional Solicitor-General R.N Trivedi, along with an advocate, were today flown in for defending the Punjab Government’s stand in the PPSC recruitment scam even though Advocate-General Harbhagwan Singh had been appearing on behalf of the state till now and Punjab has a strong team of over 90 law officers “capable of arguing such cases”.

Govt warned against scrapping selections
Bathinda, May 30
Even as the Punjab Government is yet to decide finally on whether to scrap all selections made by the Punjab Public Service Commission during the tenure of its controversial Chairman, Mr Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu, various employee unions have threatened to launch an agitation if the government went ahead with the decision.

‘Govt acted on basis, of reliable evidence’
Argument on plea by PCS officers
Chandigarh, May 30
A bunch of approximately 30 petitions filed by PCS officers — whose services were either dispensed with or were reverted — will come up for further arguments tomorrow when a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court would hear arguments on their plea for staying the government's order in this regard.

Way cleared for more disclosures
Patiala, May 30
The way has been cleared for further disclosures in the PPSC recruitment scam with a local court today deciding to record a supplementary statement of the prime accused, Randhir Singh Dheera, in the case Under Section 164 of the CrPC on June 5.

• Sidhu files fresh bail plea

Mann for CBI inquiry into PPSC scam
Patiala, May 30
The President of the Akali Dal (Amritsar), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, today demanded that the PPSC recruitment scam case should be handed over to the CBI for investigation claiming that the Vigilance Bureau did not have the resources to investigate various facets of the case.

Dheera ready to disclose all
Patiala, May 29
Prime accused in the job for money PPSC scam Randhir Singh Dheera is likely to take the names of all persons whom he had missed out while recording his statement under Section 164 of the CrPC on May 16 for which he has filed an application in a local court.

Jagman’s bail plea rejected
Ropar, May 29
Mr Maghar Khan, Sessions Judge, here today dismissed the bail application of Jagman Singh, a right-hand man of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, Chairman, Punjab Public Service Commission, and an accused in the PPSC recruitment scam. 

Bar association to intensify stir
Chandigarh, May 29
A day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association submitted a memorandum to the Governors of the two states for entrusting the PPSC scam probe to an “independent agency”, besides the transfer of local Judges, members today resolved to intensify the stir by generating public opinion against alleged corruption in the judiciary.

HIGH COURT
PCS officers file plea
Chandigarh, May 29
In less than a week after the Punjab government decided to dispense with the services of certain PCS officers, seven more petitions were filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday.

PPSC SCAM
Punjab to go by HC orders
Chandigarh, May 29
The Punjab Government will go by the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the future of all those who had been recruited on the recommendations made by the Punjab Public Service Commission during the tenure of Ravi Sidhu.

PCMS body flays govt decision
Chandigarh, May 29
The PCMS Association has criticised the decision of the state government to remove 850 PCMS doctors along with 2,596 other employees recruited by the Punjab Public Service Commission during the tenure of its Chairman, Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu.

Sidhu’s remand extended
Chandigarh, May 29
The tainted Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, who has been booked by the UT police under the Arms Act and the Excise Act, was further remanded in judicial custody today.

Lawyers submit memo to Governors
Chandigarh, May 28
Up in arms against alleged corruption in the judiciary, members of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, along with members of the District Bar Associations of the two states, today marched up to the residences of the Punjab and Haryana Governors for submitting a memorandum seeking the transfer of the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam to an “independent agency”, besides transfer of local Judges, along with Judges having kith and kin practising in the High Court.

3,446 selected by Sidhu to go 
To be given another chance
Chandigarh, May 27
Announcing a major decision with regard to the recruitment made by the Punjab Public Service Commission in recent years, the state government today said that “it has been decided to hold a fresh selection process through an independent agency for all candidates who appeared for a written test and/or interview for various posts in different departments of the government during the tenure of Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, Chairman of the commission”.

Sacked PCS officers can reappear in exams : CM
Chandigarh, May 27
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh, today stated that all PCS officers who have been removed from service will be allowed to appear in the examination again and in case they are selected, their seniority will be restored to them.

HIGH COURT
7 PCS officers file plea
Demand quashing of sack orders
Chandigarh, May 27
In different petitions filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, at least seven PCS officers — whose services were dispensed with — today sought the quashing of the orders issued on May 23 in this regard. Admitting the petitions, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today fixed July 29 as the next date of hearing in the case.

• PCS job scam: touts’ remand extended

Langah, Sidhu file bail applications
Ropar, May 27
Mr Sucha Singh Langah, a former Punjab PWD Minister, today filed an anticipatory bail application in the Sessions Court here in a case registered against him by the Punjab Vigilance Department for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

“We have been hanged without trial”
Chandigarh, May 26
"We have been hanged without trial". This is what a number of PCS officers, whose services were dispensed with on May 23 by the Punjab Government, have to say about their fate.

• They have also been removed

Sidhu’s bail plea rejected
Panchkula, May 25
A bail plea moved by a former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, in a case under the Arms Act registered against him in the Sector 39 police Station was today dismissed by a local court. This was second time when the Magistrate had dismissed the bail plea moved Sidhu under the Arms Act registered him.

Retest for PCS posts likely
Patiala, May 25
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, while stating today that there was no question of any rethinking on the sacking of PCS (Executive) officers, said the government was considering a proposal to hold a re-examination for the posts which could also be taken by the officers whose services had been dispensed with two days ago.

• Reconsider decision, urges PCS body
• For this PCS officer, everything is finished

PPSC ex-chief denies graft charge
Chandigarh, May 24
Former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Mr Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, facing a Vigilance probe, said today that allegations regarding his properties and assets were baseless and politically motivated.

DC reallocates posts following dismissal
Patiala, May 24
Deputy Commissioner Tejvir Singh today posted two PCS officers to positions falling vacant due to dismissal of three PCS officers by the state government besides making internal arrangements to handle the third post falling vacant in the district administration.

• Give Sidhu case to CBI, says Mann

DISTRICT COURTS
Arguments on Sidhu’s bail plea adjourned
Chandigarh, May 24
A local court today adjourned the argument on a bail plea moved by the Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, in a case under the Arms Act registered against him in the Sector 39 police Station till May 25.

PPSC scam probe: glaring gaps, 31 ‘missing’ names
Hari Jaisingh
Where is the investigation in the Ravi Sidhu case heading towards? Is it on the right track? Or is it getting lopsided and diluted, even derailed? Is a cover-up exercise under way—the fear of which has been in the air for quite some time? These questions are crucial at this stage of the investigation of the PPSC mega-scam.

•  Punjab page: Ex-PPSC chief Bhupinder Sidhu also faces probe

Vigilance Bureau fails to submit list
Chandigarh, May 20
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today failed to submit a list giving information regarding the “links” of the candidates, along with the details of their academic performance, in the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam before a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

CJ asked to complete probe against judges named in scam
Bar Association threat to boycott Courts
Chandigarh, May 20
Throwing the ball back in the court of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice, the Bar Association of the two states today resolved to ask the CJ to complete the inquiry against the Judges allegedly named in the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam within the next two or three days failing which they would stay away from their courts.

Sidhu’s plea on jail dismissed
Chandigarh, May 18
A local court today dismissed an application moved by the controversial Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, to detain him at the local Model Burail Jail instead of the Central Jail, Patiala, where he is presently lodged.

• Notification on Sidhu on anvil

• Sidhu’s judicial remand extended till May 31
• Vigilance collects PPSC candidates’ marks
• PPSC scam: notice to DC’s GA
• 2 judicial officers pressurised Sidhu, says Dheera

• Badal must face the truth: CPI
• Bansal, 7 other officers shifted
• Venkatratnam’s arrest further stayed

• Badal confesses
• Copy of letter

Scam vindicates aspirants’ claims
Amritsar, May 14
The names of at least six persons in the PPSC selection list vindicates the stand of several aspirants that the selection was not on merit. Among the names that figured in complaints by these aspirants was that of Kuljit Kaur, daughter of SSP Gurcharan Singh, Ferozepore, who made it to the selection list despite having failed twice in her Bachelor of Arts examination.

Appointment letter not issued despite selection
Kapurthala, May 14
Mr Surjit Singh of Dudwindi village in Sultanpur Lodhi subdivision and practising as lawyer in the District Courts here has been driven from pillar to post to get appointment letter for the post of District Attorney in the Punjab State Election Commission, Chandigarh.

HIGH COURT
Probe into Sidhu case “must be impartial”
Chandigarh, May 14
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked Punjab’s Advocate-General to ensure that the proceedings before the Court should not hinder the progress of investigation in the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scandal.

PPSC changes ‘rules of procedure’
Patiala, May 13
The Punjab Public Service Commission today changed its rules of procedure bringing in major reforms in its examination system and reverting all its powers to the entire Commission instead of only its Chairman.

We paid money to Sidhu via Dhira: Pammi, Sagar
Patiala, May 13
Punjab Public Service Commission’s Chairman Ravinderpal Singh Sidhu received another set back today when Panjab University Senator Paramjit Singh Pammi and businessman Prem Sagar got damning statements recorded against him under Section CrPC 164 today.

HIGH COURT
Writ against Sidhu goes to another Bench
Chandigarh, May 13
A writ petition filed by Harjeet Kaur Randhawa and two other members of the Punjab State Public Service Commission, against Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu and other respondents, for ensuring multi-member functioning of the body was today transferred to a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Mr Justice G. S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Bakhshish Kaur.

DISTRICT COURT
Sidhu’s case
An application moved by the PPSC chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, to transfer him to the Model Burail Jail in Chandigarh instead of the Central Jail, Patiala where he is presently lodged, has been put off for hearing on May 18 by a local court.

Sidhu’s bail plea rejected
Patiala, May 11
Patiala District and Sessions judge S.N. Aggarwal today rejected the bail application of Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu in a case relating to taking illegal gratification while making selections which had been filed by the local Vigilance Bureau at Patiala on April 30.

Pritpal comes out against Sidhu
Patiala, May 11
After being put on the mat by his confidants who spilled the beans on how money was taken from various candidates and forwarded to him, Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu has now been deserted by his long-standing Secretary Pritpal Singh who has accused him of playing havoc with secrecy rules and may well turn an approver against his former boss.

RAVI SIDHU CASE
Security cover for Bhupjit, Munjal
Chandigarh, May 10
Realising their importance as key links as well as their vulnerability to threats which may even lead to physical harm, the Intelligence Wing of the Punjab police has decided to provide security cover to both Mr Bhupjit Singh, the main complainant, and his friend, Mr Chander Mohan Munjal, in the PPSC recruitment scam.

HC seeks all documents
Chandigarh, May 10
Directing Punjab's Advocate-General to ensure that all documents pertaining to the Punjab Public Service Commission scam, including the statements recorded by the investigating agency and the courts, were placed before them in a sealed cover, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today fixed May 13 as the next date of hearing for examining the issue regarding "right to information" of a social organisation which had filed a public interest litigation seeking transparent investigation in the matter.

• High Court kept in dark
• Badal out to ‘defend’ corruption

Intelligence defends action
Chandigarh, May 9
Taking a serious view of the remarks made by the Chief Director of the Vigilance Bureau about investigations in the PPSC scam, the Intelligence Wing today affirmed that it would continue to provide inputs to the government as an aid to further investigations in the recruitment scam and other related cases.

Garg asks govt to forward cases to him
Chandigarh, May 9
In its first letter to start the task assigned to it, the Chairman of the Punjab Inquiry Commission, Justice A. S. Garg, has asked the state government to submit all complaints and cases which are required to be inquired into by it (commission).

• Police remand for Pammi
• Punjab Vigilance gets 3 SPs, 8 DSPs

Angry Punjabi youth aspiring for top government posts or denied entry into the Punjab civil services vent their spleen on Sidhu. (28k, 56k)

Should selection of lecturers be scrapped?
Chandigarh, May 9
Should the selection of lecturers by the Punjab Public Service Commission during the tenure of Mr Ravi Sidhu be scrapped? This question has become a topic of debate amongst those who had appeared before the PPSC for posts of lecturer and were not selected and those who got selected and are teaching. The persons selected have already formed an ad hoc body, the PPSC Selected College Lecturers Association, with headquarters in Ludhiana. Those who had appeared and were not selected have demanded the scrapping of the entire list of selected lecturers on the plea that the commission procedure was faulty.