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Tapping cast, community and floating vote Chandigarh, April 29 It is a different matter that successive elected governments have seldom done justice to the social welfare and economic uplift of this important segment of the population. Across all 13 seats, one has heard them demand “quality education, health delivery services and social security network”. Their school going children, though eligible for stipend, have been denied the same for the past several years due to fiscal stringency. Out of 30 lakh school going children and studying in the government schools, two-third of them belong to the Scheduled Castes. Even the dropout rate, particularly among girls, is highest among their children. A look at the pattern how Punjab voted in the past elections, assembly-2002 or parliament-1999, shows that the percentage of votes polled by a political party is inversely proportion to the seats won. In the assembly elections-2002, the Congress had won 62 seats and cornered 23.29 per cent of the polled votes. The Akalis had won 41 seats and got 19.96 per cent of the polled votes, while the BJP had won three seats and polled 3.69 per cent votes. Their combined poll percentage was 23.65. In the parliamentary elections-1999, the Congress had bagged eight out of 13 seats, polling 38.44 per cent votes, while the Akalis had won only three seats and secured 28.59 per cent votes. The BJP won just one seat and polled 9.16 per cent votes or 37.75 per cent, jointly. This shows that the percentage of votes polled by the Congress and Akali/ BJP has variably been fairly close. If one looks at the percentage leaning of the voters on the basis of castes and communities towards political parties, assembly-2002 result show how Punjab had voted. Political analysts grouped communities as follows (figures in the parenthesis indicate their percentage in the population) — Scheduled Castes (30), Jats (33), Hindus (17), Backward Classes (17.5), Muslims and Christians (2.5). The estimated swing of these communities shows that the total percentage share of the Congress and Akalis/BJP was 37 and 36.5, respectively, while of BSP was 4.5 per cent and CPI/CPM 4 per cent. Presuming this pattern will prevail in the Lok Sabha elections, the political parties will travel extra miles to win over the maximum percentage of votes. Efforts are already on to break into these vote banks through key community leaders. But even more important for political parties is tapping of 18 per cent “floating” vote that is usually perceived to hold the final sway. The floating voter, analysts say, makes up its mind close to the voting day. And it is this “floating” vote that will play an important role in the upcoming elections. An interesting aspect of castes and communities’ based secular electoral democracy is the sub-divisions within them. The term ‘Scheduled Castes’ only means castes that are listed in Section 2 of the Constitution and ‘Scheduled Tribes’ are the ones that figure in Section 3. The voting pattern and political alliance or allegiance of this class of voters is peculiar. Officially, 37 Scheduled Castes are listed in Punjab. The Ramdasias, A-dharmis, Balmikis, Mazhbhi Sikhs etc. all vote differently and for different political parties. It is seldom that the widely accepted cast or community pattern is breached. The main concentration of the Scheduled Castes is in Doaba, though these are spread out in Malwa and Majha, as well. |
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Cong has to work
harder for 2 seats: Amarinder Kartarpur (Jalandhar), April 29 He indicated that the Congress might not give the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat to its alliance partner, CPM, in future even as party leaders and workers were leaving no stone unturned to make the CPM candidates win from Hoshiarpur and Bathinda seats. Addressing mediapersons from on board a special bus, he said his party would win all 11 Lok Sabha seats, but there were certain problems at one or two seats. Asked to identify the seats, he said: “I am not going to tell you but in my view, more hardwork is needed to ensure our victory.” He said some coordination problems between Congress and CPM workers had surfaced at Bathinda, and he was going there tomorrow to sort it out. “I hope that I would be able to solve the problem there. Though, it is a national-level decision to enter into an alliance with the CPM, in future we might not give the Bathinda seat to the alliance partner. Our workers are supporting Ms Bhaura there and so is the case with Hoshiarpur,” he said. Having a dig at the “India Shining” slogan of the NDA, he said it was a sham and did not project a true picture. “Opinion polls are unveiling the lies. Mr Vajpayee had promised two crore jobs every year but nothing happened. On the other hand, we ensured 10-hour uninterrupted power supply to the farm sector. Work is on to provide potable water to 7,000 villages with the World Bank aid of Rs 1,622 crore,” he said. He alleged that SAD leader Sukhbir Badal had been involved in hawala transactions worth over Rs 7 crore and the case documents had been handed over to the Enforcement Directorate along with the documents relating to the case of his own son, Raninder Singh. “Corruption had reached new heights during Mr Badal’s time and whenever he (Badal) came to Ludhiana, industrialists and businessmen used to leave the city for Nepal, which proved to be a cheaper destination for them than being in their hometown,” he alleged. Later the Chief Minister addressed a rally at Kartarpur for Congress candidate Rana Gurjit Singh. He also addressed rallies at Kapurthala and Lambra. KAPURTHALA (UNI): In clear violation of the code of conduct, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh began his road show on Thursday in a convoy of over 100 vehicles in the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency. Congress candidate Rana Gurjit Singh had put up banners and flags along the entire route, disregarding the code of conduct. Election observer Tarun Kumar took a strong note of the code violation and asked the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that the banners were removed. The Deputy Commissioner said he had ordered the removal of the flags. However, the authorities ignored his directions and could be seen even after the convoy of the Chief Minister had passed through the city. |
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Check malpractices, Cong urges CEC Faridkot, April 29 They expressed apprehensions over reports which appeared in a section of the Press today regarding views expressed by some of the electorate of different villages in Moga districts who had clearly stated that they would vote only after receiving money and other things. In a press release here today, the senior Congress leaders while cautioning the CEC reminded that Faridkot being a VVIP constituency where stalwarts like Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, general secretary, SAD, and son of former state Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and Mrs Karan Brar daughter-in-law of former state Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar, SAD and Congress nominees, respectively were in the poll fray needed serious attention. These leaders requested the three election observers, including, Mr Vimal Kirti Singh, Mr Vimal Garg and Mr Kumar Sanjay, to closely watch the situation. The Congress leaders highly appreciated the action of the district Returning Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot, for impounding 41 different vehicles of SAD candidate Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal who allegedly violated the model code of conduct. |
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Cong, CPI form coordination panel Bathinda, April 29 In a press note here today, Dr Gurcharan Gandhi, Press Secretary, said that the coordination election committee would be headed by Dr Joginder Dyal, State Secretary, CPI, and Mr Surinder Singla, local MLA and Chairman, High-Powered Finance Committee, Punjab. Other members of the committee are Mr Harminder Singh, Jassi, Mr Harbans Singh, Mr Surinder Kapur, Mr Gulzar Singh, Mr Jasmel Singh (all former MLAs), Mr K.K. Sharma, Mr K.K. Aggarwal, Mr Sukhraj Natt, Mr Kulwant Rai Aggarwal, Mr Bikramjit Singh Bika, Chairman, Zila Parishad, Bathinda, Mr Ashok Kumar, Mr Gurmit Singh, Mr Varinder Garg, Mr Anil Kumar, Mr Amrik Singh Phool, Mr Mohinder Singh Sran, Mr Karam Singh Grewal, Mr Gurbachan Bhullar, Mr Amarjit Cheema (all senior Congress and CPI leaders) and Mr Inder Shani, acting president, DCC (I), Bathinda. |
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Akali Dal (A) manifesto talks of Punjab ‘problem’ Ludhiana, April 29 Releasing the manifesto here today, party leaders said they would “chart out and negotiate a just, peaceful and non-violent solution of the Punjab problem with the Government of India, with the active support of all democracies and the United Nations.” The “mission statement” in the manifesto seeks “to achieve all legitimate religious, social and economic, civil and political rights and rights of the people of Punjab under international laws, treaties and conventions.” It also seeks “to single-mindedly work for the economic development of all sections of Punjabis, to eradicate poverty from Punjab by 2014, to make Punjab literate by 2010 and to provide employment to all by 2010.” Trying to assert its secular character and also appeal to Hindus, the party manifesto gives adequate space to the issue of cow protection. Other major proposals in the manifesto include separation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and, a commission of inquiry into Operations Bluestar and
Woodrose. It also opposed the construction of the SYL canal. |
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Former Speaker woos NRIs Phagwara, April 29 Listing benefits given to the NRIs by NDA government, Mr Atwal asserted that the non-resident Indians had finally been given their due status by awarding them dual citizenship and other concessions in over the past six years by Mr Vajpayee. Mr Atwal said though many Indian communities, including Gujaratis and Malayalis had gained from dual citizenship, the
Punjabis had been benefited the most. Taking the credit, Mr Atwal said in Punjab he alone had initiated several projects to facilitate matters both for NRIs, and Punjabis wanting to travel abroad. The international airport at Amritsar, British Library in Chandigarh, a Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh, and a British Embassy passport collection centre in
Jalandhar were few such projects initiated and introduced by him and his party. Mr Atwal explained that he had also remained instrumental in getting the NRI Bill passed during his term of
Speakership. He said the Bill ensured the protection of NRI property in Punjab. He pointed out in the Doaba region, there was hardly any family whose member did not live abroad and a large percentage of families had completely moved out of the state and did not have a caretaker behind to look after their property. Mr Atwal said these families, while living abroad, always looked back with remorse, knowing somebody was swindling them. He said the NRIs had for long been cheated of their right and legal possession of property back in India. He said the Bill had bought a sigh of relief to lakhs of Punjabis abroad. |
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JD(U) not to back Gujral’s son
Jalandhar, April 29 Talking to reporters here yesterday, party’s general secretary Om Prakash Khemkarni said Mr I.K. Gujral had won the election from Jalandhar twice in 1989 and 1998 on a Janata Dal ticket but after being elected he never bothered to take care of the party or its leaders in Punjab. Mr Khemkarni alleged that after assuming the post of the Prime Minister, or earlier even as the Foreign Minister, Mr Gujral had never favoured his party colleagues from the state or district but showered political appointments on his personal friends in Delhi. Mr Khemkarni said Mr Gujral could have strengthened the party but instead his “selfish unbecoming” attitude had weakened it. The decision of the party over the issue had been conveyed to the party high command, Mr Khemkarni added.
— UNI |
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Quota agenda framed for candidates Phagwara, April 29 The agenda seeks replacement of caste-based reservation with economic-based reservation and that caste-based quota for seats in the Lok Sabha, state Vidhan Sabhas and other elected bodies should not be extended. Books free of cost and stipends should be provided to poor students irrespective of their caste, it said. Admission to medical and other professional colleges should be strictly on merit as per the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court, it added. Social security schemes like the shagun scheme and the allotment of houses should be extended to the poor irrespective of the caste. The federation sought the inclusion of the agenda in the poll programme of the parties. |
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Rejection of Bal’s papers irk ex-servicemen Amritsar, April 29 Interestingly, Col Bal's name was deleted from the voters' list even though he had contested three elections of Parliament and Assembly since 1999. The names of seven more members of the dal, including Col Bal's brother, Capt Hardip Singh, a retired District Revenue Officer were also deleted from the voters' list for the reasons best known to the authorities concerned. Col Bal said he was shocked to learn that his name had been deleted from the voters' list despite the fact that he had been a permanent resident of Amritsar for the last 45 years. He said his party would approach the Chief Election Commission as it was recognised by the commission. He said the dal had decided to field him from here to highlight the issues pertaining to ex-servicemen and he was the sole candidate of his party in the state. He said he had furnished all proofs of his address and identity cards to the Election Observer and the District Returning Officer, but they did not accept his claims. He alleged that his nomination papers were deliberately rejected as his party had been criticising the district administration and the state government for ignoring the public issues. |
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Sangrur BJP chief quits Sangrur, April 29 Dr Gupta told TNS this evening that he had left the party due to the entry of “selfish” persons in the party and “intolerable activities” of some office-bearers of the district unit of the party. He said he would now work for the victory of Mr Arvind Khanna, Congress candidate from the Sangrur parliamentary constituency. |
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The area which campaigners avoid Dhar (Gurdaspur) April 29 With a population of not more than 10,000 scattered over a wide area, even politicians do not bother to come here for votes. Moving from place to place on a hilly track on a dilapidated road is no mean task. Less voters in the area makes it less attractive for vote-hungry politicians. “While at other places people get at least promises, nobody comes here even to make those promises so that we could live in hope”, laments Baldev Raj, a shopkeeper of
Dhar. People recall that the last time any official activity witnessed in the area was when the government rest house in Katori
Bungdlow village along the Himachal Pradesh border was being refurbished a year and a half ago. At that time it was believed that the Punjab government wanted to detain former Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal here. However, Mr Badal was not arrested at that time. Since then no official movement has been noticed in the area, maintains Jaimal Singh, a labourer. It was in 1996 during the Chief Ministership of Mr Harcharan Singh Brar that Dhar was elevated to the level of subdivision along with Narot Mehra. People do not remember whether any SDM stayed here for long. Whosoever is posted here considers himself to be on punishment posting and his priority remains to seek a transfer from here. And till then the official either remains on leave for most of the time or is “on tour to Gurdaspur (the district headquarter)”. The area presents a stark contrast to the India ‘Shining’ slogan. The area remains literally in darkness. Big trees along the hilly tracks leave little scope even for the sun to shine here. And electricity remains “as elusive as the political leaders or the government officials”. Although a government degree college was set up when Master Mohan Lal was the Minister of Higher Education Punjab, still most of the youths do not go for higher studies as they either cannot afford it or do not see any prospects in it. Most of the people have modest living. Since there is no adequate arrangement for irrigation in the area the land does not yield much, not even sufficient to help them make ends meet. There are no avenues of employment except for
any government-sponsored work like repairing of road or the construction of a building. But that happens rarely. Unlike at other places where people expect political leaders to come to them during elections for votes, there is no such hope or expectation here. “Nobody comes to us even for votes”, regrets Baldev Raj, a shopkeeper of
Dhar, adding, “we could at least voice our grievances”. Like any other election, even this time it does not mean anything to the people here. |
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Economic issues not being debated: Gill Amritsar, April 29 Mr Gill, who was in Gurdaspur to address a Congress rally in favour of Ms Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder,
party’s candidate for the Gurdaspur constituency, said slow industrialisation, unemployment, non-diversification of crops and institutions like Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana, were main problems being faced by the state and these issues were not being debated. While commenting upon Mr Vinod Khanna, he said he was a good man but more of an actor than a people’s representative. Mr Gill said Mr Khanna had failed to pay serious attention
to his constituency as he was an outsider. On the contrary, Ms Bhinder had represented Gurdaspur for five times and knew problems
of people here, he claimed. |
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Special court’s jurisdiction challenged Ropar, April 29 In the four-hour debate over the application defence lawyer H.S. Mattewal challenged the jurisdiction of the special court to try the case. He maintained that as per the Prevention of Corruption Act as interpreted by the Supreme Court only the special court of the area could try the case. Since all allegations against Mr Badal related to his stint as Chief Minister, only the Chandigarh special court had the jurisdiction of trying the case as his office at Chandigarh was allegedly at the centre of corruption. Mr Mattewal also contested the notification issued by the Punjab government on November 17 2003 empowering the special judge Ropar to try all cases registered at the Mohali police station of the Vigilance Bureau on the grounds that it was not issued in consultation with the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In the present case the government has just posted a letter to the Registrar of the High Court informing him about the appointment of special judge at Ropar. Only the High Court was empowered to appoint the special judges and assign work to them. The notification that till date had not been published in the gazette was in fact the interference of the executive in the affairs of the judiciary, he alleged. As per the Section 4 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, if there were more than one special judges at a place the work among them was to be distributed by the central government through a notification. However in the case of Ropar despite the fact that two special judges, the District and Sessions Judge and Additional District and Sessions Judge were appointed through a notification, the work among them was not distributed as per law. The conspiracy in which Mr Badal was a partner was the only base on which the prosecution could justify the filing of case at Ropar. However, in that case also since Mr Badal was just a director in the company, cannot be filed directly against him, Mr Mattewal maintained. The defence concluded its arguments on the application at 3.15 p.m. leaving the prosecution half an hour to present its views. The prosecution maintained that there were two parts of the Section four of the Prevention of the Corruption Act. The one part deals with the general cases in which the area in which the crime was committed was of primary concern, while second part deals with the special cases in which the class of the offence was of primary concern. In the special case the government through a proper notification could empower any special judge to try the cases. The prosecution will continue with its arguments on the jurisdiction of the Ropar court on May 4 the next date of hearing of the case. The decision on the application challenging the jurisdiction of the special court was likely to affect the outcome of almost all corruption cases registered by the Punjab Vigilance against Akali ministers. Meanwhile Mr Prakash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal were once again granted exemption from personal appearance for today’s hearing on the grounds of urgent work. |
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Badal seeks dissolution of Nehra Commission Chandigarh, April 29 In a statement issued on behalf of Mr Badal, the party Secretary, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said that the Chief Minister was telling “lies” that he had referred his son’s case to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. If that was so, what was the need for the Commission? Moreover, he asked, if the matter had been referred to DRI and the Enforcement Directorate, the Chief Minister must release the relevant correspondence on the issue to the media. The press note quoting Mr Badal rubbished that allegations of corruption against Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal and that the same had been forwarded to DRI. When there was no case made out against him, how could reference be made? The statement concluded demanding a CBI probe into hawala transactions by Mr Raninder Singh. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has invited SAD delegation to New Delhi on May 5, in response to a request from the Akali Dal President . The Commission was informed of news reports that government officials were collecting ‘’election cess’’ for the ruling Congress besides pointing to several administrative and political irregularities being committed to influence voters. The party press release said the delegation to the Commission will comprise Dr Cheema, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal and Mr Avtar Singh Hit. |
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Protest against French ban on turban in schools Amritsar, April 29 Wearing golden yellow colour turbans and headgears Sikh boys and girls raised slogans and carried placards highlighting the issue. They regretted that the no member, whether Sikh or non-Sikh, of Indian Parliament raised the issue and took firm stand on serious human rights violation by the French government. Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, president, SNO and convener of the CHCI addressing the rally said that it was moral and constitutional responsibility of the Indian Parliament as to protect the rights of members of the Sikh nation spread all over the world. He said that the Indian parliament should pass a resolution condemning the French Law and take up the matter with Parliament of France, the United Nation Organisation and other friendly nations of the world to build pressure on France the withdraw the law. |
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Commendable job by Punjab Police Patiala, April 29 “I am having difficulty to find appropriate words to thank police officers of Jalandhar and Sirhind who were not only nice to me but also
performed their duty with great zeal when I approached them with a complaint”, says Colonel Mann. “ Within 24 hours from the lodging of the complaint, the police was able to locate my stolen briefcase containing important documents such as passports, ATM cards, land registered deeds etc. Colonel Mann says that on April 27 he had gone to Jalandhar from Patiala to book air tickets for a visit to the USA. He left his briefcase in the car with the instructions to the driver not leave the car alone. However, while he spent time with officials of a travelling agency, the driver left to take tea from a nearby shop leaving the car unattended. In the meantime, someone took away the briefcase from the car. When Colonel Mann returned to the car, briefcase was missing. “ I was shocked as even the sponsorship papers of my son was in the briefcase”, he added. He approached senior police officers, including the SSP, Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Pargat Singh. He lodged the complaint with Mr Gurmeet Singh, SHO of the police station concerned. “Mr Gurmeet Singh immediately swung into action, He rang up all railway police officials informing about the loss of the briefcase near the railway station, Jalandhar”, says Colonel Mann. The SHO made
inquiries from several suspected persons near the station and searched several vacant plots nearby as usually thiefs abandon such items at vacant places after removing valuables. However, there was no success that night. If next day, on April 28, Colonel Mann got a call from his son that the Sirhind railway police has found one briefcase from the Chhattisgarh train. Colonel Mann says that he immediately drove to Sirhind where Mr Sukhdev Singh, SHO, railway police, told the story regarding the locating of the briefcase. The thief, after lifting the briefcase at Jalandhar, boarded the train. At Khanna, the Railway police party led by Sukhdev Singh boarded the train. Incidentally the thief was in the same compartment in which the police party boarded. On seeing the police party, he left the briefcase behind and escaped to another compartment. Other passengers told the police party about the brief case lying unattended. The police took into possession the briefcase and opened it, taking all precautions, suspecting that it may be carrying a bomb. As the address of Mr Mann was available on the documents in the briefcase, the railway police contacted his family to pass on the information regarding the briefcase. “ I am happy that I got my important documents back. Otherwise I would have suffered a big loss. I was so happy that I invited the police officials concerned for treat and thanksgiving”, he added. |
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Inquiry absolves SMO Bathinda, April 29 He said this fact had came to light following an inquiry conducted by the Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, Dr S.K. Goyal, into the allegations made in the new item. He said on April 27, he and the Election Observer (Expenditure), Mr G.S. Heera, ordered the inquiry into the allegations pertaining to the collection of funds by the SMO on behalf of the state health authorities. According to Dr Goyal, Dr Jagjit Singh, District Family Planning Officer (DFPO), conducted the inquiry. Mr Sinha said all doctors posted at the Civil Hospital had given in writing that no funds had been collected for them by anyone. Dr Sandhu had already denied the allegations by dubbing the news item as baseless. He also alleged that someone had played this mischief due to a personal enmity with him. |
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Poll duty ignores service protocol,
alleges manch Abohar, April 29 Alleging that rigging is always resorted to by politicians with the help of hardcore criminals, he said in such a situation, the employees were concerned more with saving their own skin than taking sides. He criticised the district administration for ignoring the academic and service protocol while forming the poll teams. He said in some cases JBT teachers had been appointed presiding officers and lecturers and BA BEd teachers would work as their subordinate in the polling station. |
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Punjab to ban smoking in public places Chandigarh, April 29 This was stated in a press release by the government, quoting an official of the department of Health and Family Welfare. |
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Book those responsible for
suicide: union Bathinda, April 29 Addressing activists at a dharna staged by the union, he said the employees committed suicide as they were being harassed. The other demands of the union included that the provident fund amount should be deposited in their respective general provident fund accounts and promotions of Class IV employees as per the seniority list. |
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Sikh ‘freedom march’ by Dal Khalsa Amritsar, April 29 The march caused a flutter as it was launched when electioneering for Lok Sabha election was at its peak. Before the ‘march’, ‘ardas’ was performed by Mr Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib who had undergone imprisonment for 14 years in Pakistan for the hijacking of Delhi-Srinagar Indian Airlines plane in 1981. Bhai Ishar Singh, a son of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale honoured 20 families of the slain militants on the occasion. The Dal Khalsa also called upon international community to understand the genesis of the Sikh problem in right perspective. |
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Former Pepsu CM Brish Bhan remembered Sangrur, April 29 Mr Vipan Garg, a spokesman of the Babu Brish Bhan DAV School Management Committee, said a blood camp and medical check-up camp were organised in the school complex. He said 15 persons donated blood while 250 students were examined at the free check up camp. Medicines were provided free of cost to the students. A sewing centre for 30 poor girls of Moonak village was also opened in the school complex today in the memory of late Babu Brish Bhan. |
High Court Chandigarh, April 29 Treating a letter written by a citizen as public interest petition, the Bench comprising Mr Chief Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Surya Kant also asked the authorities to ensure proper protection of the letter writer. In the letter, it has been said that the government is not taking any action against the accused officer. Mr Goel is alleged to have shot six birds, including two peacocks, during a shooting party. A case was registered against him and he is currently on bail. The case was later adjourned to May 6.
Notice issued The High Court on Thursday issued notice of motion for May 14 on a petition in public interest (PIL) filed by advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal in his capacity as president of the World Human Rights Protection Council. In the PIL, Mr Lakhanpal has referred to The Tribune report of January 30 in which the plight of a woman who was mercilessly beaten up and stripped naked by the henchmen of a liquor contractor in Dhariwal town in Gurdaspur district was highlighted. The woman’s crime, the report had said, was that she had requested the liquor contractor not to give liquor to her alcoholic husband. A case in the matter was registered only after public pressure. Saying that liquor contractors have become a law onto themselves, Mr Lakhanpal has sought directions to the Punjab Government to check their nefarious activities. He has also requested that a status report in the woman’s case be placed before the court. After hearing him a Division Bench comprising Mr Chief Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Surya Kant issued notice of motion. |
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Insurance firm told to pay Rs 1.65 lakh Pathankot, April 29 The bench comprising Mr G.S. Sandhu, President, Mrs Manisha Verma, member, also directed that orders be complied within two months from March 25. The complainant alleged that he had purchased a “Mediclaim Insurance” from the New India Assurance Company here on October 12, 2001, for one year and had it renewed for another one year. He stated that before policy was given to him, a check-up was conducted by the company. On December 27, 2002, he went to meet his daughter at Ludhiana, and felt a mild chest pain. He got a medical check-up done from Dr Gurpreet, Cardiologist with DMC, who after investigation, advised G.A.B.C. The complainant had to arrange money for the surgery. Countering allegations of the complainant, the company pleaded that complainant was suffering from the disease for which he obtained treatment and had suppressed the fact of his ailment. However, this factum was not proved by the opposite party. The claim of the complainant was earlier refused by the company with remarks, “since the signs and symptoms relating to IHD was more than one and a half years old, hence the claim is non-payable as it was a pre-existing disease”. The complainant claimed Rs 3.95 lakh from the opposite party, but the forum awarded Rs 1.65 lakh. |
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PPSC scam: Vigilance files another chargesheet Patiala, April 29 The chargesheet has been filed in connection with nomination of 13 officers to the PCS from lower cadres of state services by the commission when it was headed by Mr Sidhu. The case against Mr Ravi Sidhu and others was registered on September 9, 2002. Mr Sidhu is presently out on bail. The court has fixed May 22 for the next hearing. |
District achieves target procurement Fatehgarh Sahib, April 29 He said wheat was still coming to the purchase centres. He said Markfed had purchased 68618 MT, the FCI 49417 MT, Punjab Agro 34225MT, Ware Housing Corporation 27301 MT, Punsup 46706 MT, Pungrain 15423 MT. Due to proper seed, supply of electricity, fertiliser and proper guidance, the yield had not been affected in the district. Capt Parveen Vij, DFSC, said the process of lifting the wheat had been completed and the wheat stored at an appropriate place. He said the timely payment to farmers had been ensured. The process of procurement would conclude within a week.
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Hooch claims 4 lives Muktsar, April 29 Senior Superintendent of Police R.S. Khatra said at Muktsar that three died on the night of April 27 while the fourth died in a hospital yesterday. Those killed after consuming illicit liquor were Major Singh, Manga Singh, Jit Singh, Sarwan Singh while Makhan Singh’s condition was still serious. He said that Major Singh got his leg fractured in a scooter accident six days back and his family members brought him back to the village after he was discharged from the hospital. He later complained of pain in his fractured leg and one of the family members brought a bottle of liquor so that he could get some “relief from pain”. After consuming liquor all five started feeling unwell and their condition deteriorated.
— PTI |
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Jail inmate gives cops
the slip Jalandhar, April 29 According to the police, Jasvir Singh was granted permission by a court to participate in the cremation ceremony of his father, who died yesterday. Jasvir fled from the cremation ground after dodging the police. A case has been registered and action is being taken against policemen for dereliction of duty. |
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Man attacks
wife with knife Kharar, April 29 It is alleged that last night Shankar,
along with two other persons, went to the house of Kamla and attacked
her with a kitchen knife and injured her. She had earlier also been
allegedly attacked by her husband. |
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Woman poisoned to death Tarn Taran, April 29 The Verowal police has registered a case under Section 304-B, IPC, against the accused. Police sources said Sukhraj Kaur was married to Heera Singh of Jatti-Umra about six years ago. He allegedly used to harass her for more dowry. The accused are said to be absconding. |
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Commission
agent attacked Fatehgarh Sahib, April 29 |
3-yr-old crushed to death Chandigarh, April 29 |
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Two injured in bus-jeep collision Kharar, April 29 The seriously injured persons were taken to the local Civil Hospital from where they were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. One of the injured was identified as Mr Kashmir Singh. However, the second injured person could not be identified. It is learnt that a CTU bus that was going from Chandigarh to Una collided with a jeep while trying to overtake another vehicle. The occupants of the jeep were coming from Balachaur to Chandigarh. |
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MA (Punjabi) paper not as per guidelines, allege students Bathinda, April 29 Many students of the course, went to the extent of demanding termination of the services of those who were guilty of setting a wrong question paper. They also demanded that the examination be held afresh. The students, who showed copies of the syllabus and the question paper to The Tribune today claimed that 80 per cent of the question paper was set from only one book, “Naat Dham”. Other books prescribed in the course and the guidelines prescribed for setting up of the question paper from the same books also, had been ignored. Ms Shikha (named changed), who appeared in the examination at one of the centres has pointed out that as per the guidelines given in the syllabus it was mentioned that two questions were to be set from the book named, “Naat Dham”. But in the question paper distributed today, only one question was asked from this book. She added that the other question in the same section was set from, “Subhdam” which, as per the syllabus was to be set in section two of the paper. She claimed that the paper setter had asked about ‘Patter Chittran’ (portrayal of characters) while this drama was not related to the subject. Another student alleged that no question in the second section of the question paper was set according to the guidelines as all questions were set from one book, which was originally in section one of the paper. The student added that in the third section of the paper Balwant Gargi’s —Loha Kutt and Charan Dass Sidhu’s ‘Kal College Band Rahega’ had been mentioned in the syllabus
supplied by the university but the papersetter again set two questions from ‘Naat Dham’. Thus the third section of the paper was also against the guidelines of the university. Apart from it, in the fourth section of the question paper, Ajmer Aulakh’s, ‘Satt Begane’ and Major Ishak Muhammad’s ‘Kuknus’ had been prescribed but in this section again the paper setter asked all questions from “Naat Dham” skipping originally prescribed books. In the fifth section of the question paper, 16 questions were to be asked from six books but here again the paper setter asked 12 questions from “Naat Dham” and asked only four questions from other six books. The students, who sent a representation to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, said that if their demands were not met they would seek legal remedy. Prof Y. R. Handa, district president, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, said that the papersetter who had committed such mistakes should be punished. He said these mistakes, which had been affecting the students every year, should be avoided. No official of the university could be contacted for comments. |
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