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HUDA offers provisional draw
Decision taken to avoid interest burden
Panchkula, February 7
Concerned over the burgeoing interest burden on HUDA because of delay in holding draw of lots for plots in Mansa Devi Complex here, it is now proposed to hold a provisional draw.

Wind, rain lash region

These visitors at the Rose Garden seem to enjoy light showers in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

7-hour power cuts in Sector-35 market
Due to drive against encroachments: SE
Chandigarh, February 7
Commercial street in Sector 35 in the city has been experiencing seven-hour power cuts for the past fours days. Seems unbelievable but it is true.

Education board suspends 2 clerks for indulging in fraud
Mohali, February 7
Two clerks of the Punjab School Education Board, working in the examination wing were today suspended for misappropriating the examination fee of 16 students belonging to Fatehgarh Sahib district.

Centre ‘forcing’ small units to close down
Chandigarh, February 7
“Industrial environment in respect of the small-scale sector is being vitiated by a planned strategy of the Centre to bring this sector to the brink of extinction”, says Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical (small-scale).

Army Aviation Corps set for great UN feat
Chandigarh, February 7
The Army Aviation Corps is set to make a mark in international peace-keeping operations. For the first time, men and flying machines of this corps will proceed overseas to operate under a United Nations mandate.

Passing Thru: Vivek Shokeen

CHANDIGARH CALLING Lunch is what the city discusses the most — at least for two hours. What if the city does not match up to the political and cultural clout of Kolkata, the City Beautiful has one thing in common with the city. Babus — bureaucrats and senior police officers — are commonly found on lunch break between 1 and 3. In fact people seem to have forgotten the actual lunch timing in offices.  Roundabout siesta Brave hearts Unfair MC! Seasonal vendors Candlelight show Good way to work Rain game Taking on bulls

COMMUNITY

Tibetan students carry out relief work in tsunami-hit village
Chandigarh, February 7
Five Tibetan students from Chandigarh have developed an emotional stake in one of the villages devastated by the tsunami. Called Karikartukupam, this one is lesser known than Nagapattinam because not many people from relief groups or the media landed here.

Tibetan volunteers from Chandigarh held a month-long relief camp in Karikartukupam village in Tamil Nadu devastated by tsunami.

Charisma of Yogi Harbhajan Singh lives on
Chandigarh, February 7
The charisma of late Yogi Harbhajan Singh, who set up the first-ever nursery of Sikh religion in the US and brought into the Sikh fold a phenomenal number of Americans, Latin Americans, Japanese and Africans, has outlived him.

Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Tarlochan Singh releases a book "Singh-Yogi" at Chandigarh on Monday. Ranbir Singh and Kulbir Singh, sons of the late Harbhajan Singh Yogi, are also seen. — A Tribune photo

Water blues in winter for Panchkula residents
Panchkula, February 7
With winter still around, residents of the township have already started facing water shortage.

EPF staff call on minister
Chandigarh, February 7
A delegation of All-India EPF Staff Federation called on the Union Labour Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, in New Delhi, and submitted a memorandum of demands.

Power boards' employees stage dharna
Chandigarh, February 7
Thousands of employees of electricity boards from all over northern India converged on the city on a call given by the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers and sat in dharna at Parade ground, Sector 17, Chandigarh, in protest against the Electricity Act, 2003.

Thousands of employees of electricity boards from Northern India stage dharna in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Punwire staff hail Sun Group’s move
Mohali, February 7
Employees of Punwire here have hailed the decision of the Sun Group, New Delhi, to buy the company and consider its revival. This was stated by union president Shahid Ahmed in a press note issued here today.

MLA accused of shielding encroachers
Mohali, February 7
The Citizens Welfare Federation here has urged the Punjab Chief Minister to order a high-level probe into the failure of the authorities concerned to remove illegal colonies.

Estate Office seals guest house
Chandigarh, February 7
The Estate Office today sealed Himachal Palace, a private guest house in Sector 10, for allegedly violating rules.

Police station sans shelter
Mohali, February 7
The police station at Mullanpur Garibdass, a village less than 5 km from Chandigarh, has 48 villages an its jurisdiction, but the police here has been ‘stationless’ for almost an year now.

An accused sits with policemen out in the ‘open’ at Mullanpur Garibdass police station on Monday. — Photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Poor response to commercial sites’ auction
Only 23 out of 40 PUDA shops have buyers
Mohali, February 7
For the first time in the past three years, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) registered an unenthusiastic response to its auction of commercial sites in the township held here today.

Bank staff protest against victimisation
Chandigarh, February 7
Award staff and officers of Central Bank of India held a demonstration in front of the Zonal Office of the bank in Sector 17 today evening. Employees of the Haryana unit of the Employees Union, affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) were protesting against the victimisation of the union members.

Fauji Beat
Redefine criterion for gallantry awards
The number of soldiers that we have lost in the proxy war in J&K since 1989 and in counter-insurgency in the North-East, is much more than our casualties in all wars after Independence. Most of the casualties suffered in J&K were in face of terrorists. Our officers and men displayed rare bravery in actions against these terrorists and made supreme sacrifice of their lives.

Lieut-Gen S. Pattabhiraman, new GOC-in-C, Western Command, meets his Principal Staff Officers and Heads of Arms and Services.

Mohali flower festival postponed
Mohali, February 7
The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority here has postponed the two-day Mohali Flower Festival from March 5 and 6 to March 12 and 13. Additional Chief Administrator Mohali, Yashvir Mahajan said here today.

CRPF man killed in mishap
Chandigarh, February 7
A Head Constable (42) of the Central Reserve Police Force today died when his cycle was allegedly hit by a motorcycle at the Hallomajra roundabout.

PUDA plan on colony wall rejected
Mohali, February 7
The Citizens Welfare Federation has rejected the plan of the PUDA authorities to construct a wall around an unauthorised colony in Sector 71 here.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Chandigarh Police professes to care for you. 2. On the Chandigarh-Ambala road people use a gap in the railing for crossing to other side unmindful of the danger. 3. Waiting for an accident to happen (See car HRL 37). 4. Accident happens but traffic violation continues. 5. Chandigarh Administration thanks you for ‘The Visit’ with loose electric wires.

CRIME

Patient’s death: doctor is unqualified
Chandigarh, February 7
The Mauli Jagran-based private medical practitioner after whose treatment a woman died recently is suspected not to have any degree or diploma.

Decomposed body found in sewer
Panchkula, February 7
Decomposed body of an unidentified man was found from the sewerage treatment plant in Sector 20, here this morning.

Muskan murder: poisoning angle to be examined
Chandigarh, February 7
The police has not yet gone into the poisoning angle of call girl Muskan who was allegedly murdered by a boyfriend of her old friend-turned foe in Shivalikview Hotel.

Father, son attacked
Chandigarh, February 7
A man accused of harassing his wife today attacked his father-in-law and brother-in-law near the Rock Garden to coerce them into withdraw up a harassment for dowry case.

BUSINESS

Handicraft exhibition opens
Chandigarh, February 7
An exhibition of handicrafts and handlooms, organised by Purabshree Emporium, a branch of North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation, opened today at Lajpat Rai Bhavan, Sector 15.

EDUCATION

Sports fee for students reduced
Panchkula, February 7
There is good news for young sports enthusiasts of the township. The state government today approved reduction in annual registration fee for young sports enthusiasts by over Rs 100.

Female foeticide is Punjab’s concern, says expert
Chandigarh, February 7
Every 26 minutes a woman is molested in India, every 34 minutes a woman is raped and every 42 minutes there is an incidence of sexual harassment of woman. Add to it, every 92 minutes a women is killed.

Delegates at a seminar on violence against women in Punjab at ICSSR, Panjab University, in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Psycho exhibition starts
Chandigarh, February 7
The Psycho Society, Government College, Sector 46, started its fourth annual psycho exhibition-cum-testing programme “Psycho Horizons” here today.

Lectures on Kant’s philosophy held
Chandigarh, February 7
A lecture series by Professor Kalyan Bagchi, former professor and Head, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Visva Bharati, Shanti Niketan, was organised by the Department of Philosophy, Panjab University, in collaboration with Indian Council of Philosophical Research, New Delhi here today.

From Schools
Class X students given farewell
Chandigarh, February 7
A colourful cultural programme was organised by students of junior classes at St. Peter’s Secondary School, Sector 37, on the occasion of a farewell function for the students of Class X here today.

College starts newsletter
Chandigarh, February 7
Students of Functional English in Government College, Sector 11, have come out with ‘Print Journo’ a newsletter. Editor-in-Chief of the newsletter is Prof Bhupinder Singh, a lecturer in English.

Seminar on software technologies
Mohali, February 7
A seminar on open source software technologies was organised at Indo-Global College of Engineering here today. Experts from ‘Technoschool’ led by Mr Vineet Tuli, discussed growing importance of open Source solutions in the market and latest changes in the software fields.

Lecturer honoured
Chandigarh, February 7
Dr Anjana Kumari, a lecturer at Government Model Senior Secondary School Sector 46, has been honoured with a National Level Oil and Gas Conservation award 2004.

School function held
Zirakpur, February 7
Children of Little Angel Public School, Bartana, presented a cultural programme here today. Giddha, bhangara, dances and other events added colour to the function. Children also participated in fancy dress competition on the occasion.

First prize for Gian Jyoti students
Mohali, February 7
Students of Gian Jyoti Public School, Phase II here got first prize for the best skit at the Panjab University, on the second day of a two-day seminar on environmental education. The skit — titled The Plight of our Mother Earth, presented by Gian Jyoti students won the prize. 

Seminar on  writings of Swami Dayanand
Chandigarh, February 7
A seminar was held on the writings of Swami Dayanand under the aegis of Dayanand chair for Vedic Studies, Panjab University, on Monday. Mr K S Arya, former principal, DAV college, Sector 10, presided over the function and Mr V. P. Upadhyaya delivered the keynote address.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Inquiry report
Chandigarh, February 7
The High Court on Monday directed the Government of India to produce the inquiry report as well as the action taken, if any, on the complaint of a senior Central Excise officer accusing her senior of sexually harassing her on a number of occasions.

Plea against DBA’s vice-president: RO files reply
Chandigarh, February 7
The Returning Officer for the recently-held elections to the District Bar Association, Mr LR Chadha, today filed his reply in a local court to a petition challenging the election of the vice-president.

Lawyers demand more chambers
Chandigarh, February 7
Members of the District Bar Association have demanded more chambers for advocates on the district courts premises.

• Police remand for car theft accused
• VHP case against Bhatti: hearing on Feb 9
• Finance firm director gets bail

CULTURE

SPIC MACAY forms advisory board 
North zone coordinators to meet on Feb 11
Chandigarh, February 7
The Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture among Youth (SPIC MACAY) is ready to chart a new course for itself. After forming an advisory board featuring prominent people from all walks of life, SPIC MACAY’s north zone members are now planning to take their programmes to educational institutions all over the north.

No short cuts in classical music: Pt Satish Vyas
“The sublime Indian classical music should be felt and not necessarily be learnt to relish its melodious delights, “reiterated Padmashri Pandit Satish Vyas, the santoor wizard on Monday here. The maestro was on a promotional tour of his latest album ‘Raga Dhankoni Kalyan’ created by his father Padmabhushan (Late) Pandit CR Vyas.

Pandit Satish Vyas

HEALTH

PGI panel’s meeting on seniority issue
Chandigarh, February 7
A meeting of the PGI’s Institute Body will be held on February 15 at New Delhi to discuss various issues pertaining to the functioning of the institute.

SPORTS

Abhinav fetches gold from Netherlands
Chandigarh, February 7
Abhinav Bindra has once again proved his mettle in The Hague (Netherlands) when he captured the gold medal in the 10-metre air rifle men event in the Inter- Shoot international shooting meet where shooters from more than 20 countries took part. The meet was held from February 3 to 5.

Kanika Minocha’s team win Vahi Golf Cup
Chandigarh, February 7
The team comprising Ms Kanika Minocha, J.S. Grewal and Gurpreet Gingh clinched the Pran Nath Vahi Memorial Golf Cup played at the Chandigarh Golf Club here yesterday. The threesome logged 101 points in a match played on a stableford basis.

ADMINISTRATION

Test for Hindi translators on April 24
Chandigarh, February 7
The Staff Selection Commission will hold a competitive examination on April 24, for the recruitment to the post of junior Hindi translators for subordinate offices all over the country.

• Home Minister’s advisory panel formed