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TOP STORIES

MC to tax traders running shops from homes
Chandigarh, March 23
The municipal corporation has decided to levy property tax on traders running business ventures from residential premises. These premises are all illegal shops which are banned by the UT Administration. A senior officer of the corporation said stopping shopkeepers from running businesses illegally from their homes was the job of the Administration.

Husband, in-laws booked in ‘suicide’ case
Chandigarh, March 23
Harassed by repeated accusations of having a “bad character” by her husband and in-laws, 27-year-old Tina is suspected to have ended her life by consuming pesticides at her Kumhar Colony house.

Complicated MBA selection criteria has parents fuming
Chandigarh, March 23
At Panjab University, Common Admission Test scores have little meaning. Admission to the University Business School, it seems, wholly and solely depends on the performance in the interview and that is what has some of the candidates all worked up about the criteria.

Beer, champagne to be sold in departmental stores
Chandigarh, March 23
Light alcoholic drinks like beer in 325 ml bottles, champagne, cider and mixed, ready to drink alcoholic concoctions with fruits juices will now be available in departmental stores in the city. Earlier only wines were available in departmental stores, the Chandigarh Administration said today while announcing the excise policy. The departmental stores having a turnover of Rs 40 lakh will be eligible to sell these drinks.

Passing Thru
Your five tips for healthy cooking?
Always buy good quality ingredients; while preparing your ingredients for your meal, preserve as many nutrients as possible. 
Sanjeev Kapoor, Chef

Contributions to health schemes to get exemption
Chandigarh, March 23
Contributions made to the Ex-servicemen's Contributory Health Scheme have been exempted from payment of income tax. Secretary of the Air Force Association, Northern Zone, Wg Cdr Satish Bhatia (retd), said the Income Tax authorities had agreed to exempt ECHS contributions under Section 80 (D) of the Income Tax Act for those claiming rebate.

Sociable bird vanishes: survey
CHANDIGARH: The sociable lapwing, one of Eurasia’s most threatened bird species, has almost vanished from the fields of Punjab and Haryana. According to a survey conducted by Mr Suresh C. Sharma, an ornithologist and member of the Delhi Bird Club, in January and February this year no bird was sighted. He says till the early 1930s it was a fairly common winter migrant in this region.
 

Cardiologist designs card that saves life
 Chandigarh, March 23
Here is your chance to ensure that emergencies don't last longer than they ought to. For some time now, Col Dr N.K. Bhatia (retd), a renowned cardiologist from the region, has been engaged in the task of discovering the vital link between life and death.

COMMUNITY

Woman in need of financial help
Chandigarh, March 23
Poverty-stricken Kulwinder Kaur is yet to come to terms with the disappearance of her husband missing for the past seven years. Left alone with the responsibility of bringing up two minor children, she is facing great hardship. 

Can airlines support drop in international air fares?
Chandigarh, March 23
An economy class return ticket from India to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore at Rs 10,000 it sounds like a dream come true! The ticket is inclusive of taxes, confirmed a spokesperson for Air Sahara.

Procession dedicated to martyrs
Mohali, March 23
A procession was organised by various bodies in connection with the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev here today. The procession, in which participants went in cars and on scooters and motor cycles, started from the Punwire chowk. 

Old Age Home inmates’ date with colours
Chandigarh, March 23
Inmates of Old Age Home, Sector 30, had a date with colours yesterday. For once, their day was more about the joy of Holi than about the pangs of separation inflicted upon them by their wards. Joining the elders in their day long celebrations was singer Muktesh Dewan from the city who sang his way into the inmates’ hearts.



Inmates of Old Age Home, Sector 30, celebrate Holi in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan.

Insurance sector paralysed as staff goes on strike
Chandigarh, March 23
With employees of all four public sector insurance companies observing a strike today in support of their wage revision, work in the insurance sector came to a standstill in the city and the surrounding areas.

Pak guest discharged after successful surgery
Mohali, March 23
“I came to India for the sole purpose of watching my team win but I was not prepared for the immense warmth and hospitality that I received from the Indian public. Winning or losing no longer matters.

Catholic Church to hold mass on Maundy Thursday
Chandigarh, March 23
The Catholic Church in Sector 19 will have a special mass on Maundy Thursday tomorrow at 6 pm. It will be followed by common adoration in Malayalam from 8 pm onwards.

Meteorological day celebrated
Chandigarh, March 23
World Meteorological Day was celebrated today with the sun radiant and the day delightfully warm. The city looked ‘spring cleaned’ literally, after the heavy showers of the previous day with the leaves on the trees sparkling and the streets covered with a blanket of soggy orange-yellow leaves.

Candidates for Press Club elections announced
Chandigarh, March 23
The following candidates remain in fray for the Chandigarh Press Club elections after withdrawal today. The polling will be held on Sunday, March 27, at Press Club from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Aid for ‘Adopt a Granny’ scheme
Chandigarh, March 23
HelpAge India today released a grant of Rs 1.83 lakh to Chandi Kusht Ashram towards its much successful ‘Adopt-a-Granny’ programme. Mr Bhavnesh Sharma, State Manager, HelpAge India, said the organisation had adopted 114 old people through the ashram. 

Mandal aid for tsunami-hit
Mohali, March 23
The Mohali Beopar Mandal made a contribution of Rs 51,000 towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for tsunami victims.

CRIME

190 kg of poppy husk seized
Mohali, March 23
The Mohali police today seized over 190 kg of poppy husk from two persons who were reportedly trying to smuggle it in five gunny bags to Ludhiana.

No injury mark on body, says report
Chandigarh, March 23
The preliminary post-mortem report of Mohammad Gulzar shows that there were no injury marks on the body. However, the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained, the police said here, today.

Dera Bassi residents held
Chandigarh, March 23
The local police has arrested Haman Singh, a resident of Dera Bassi in Patiala district, last night. The accused was involved in a cheating case of duping the ICICI bank. He was produced before a local court today, which remanded him in judicial custody.

BUSINESS

City rated as top IT destination
Chandigarh, March 23
Chandigarh’s claim to being a promising Information Technology destination has got an official stamp of approval. The Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, has rated Chandigarh as one of the leading centres of IT along with the established centres like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharasthra.

EDUCATION

Helping children master arithmetic
Chandigarh, March 21
Miscalculations and silly mathematical mistakes will no longer be a nightmare for students and parents. Students in the city can now learn the technique through an internationally acclaimed, revolutionary, innovative and fun filled programme.

Shikha Sood demonstrates a new learning technique at Saupins School in Mohali.

Kiran advocates pre-marital counselling for students
Chandigarh, March 23
‘‘Education should prepare students to face life, said the first Indian woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi who was in the city today to attend the 28th annual prize distribution function of Guru Gobind Singh College for women, Sector 26.



Super cop Kiran Bedi interacts with students of Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, Chandigarh, after the prize distribution function of the college on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Contribute towards progress, Barnala tells students
Mohali, March 23
The Tamil Nadu Governor and former Chief Minister Punjab, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, asked the student community in the state to contribute towards the progress of their state and nation. Mr Barnala was delivering the convocation address during the first convocation ceremony of the Chandigarh Engineering College Landran, near here.



Students of Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, at the convocation of the college on Wednesday. — A Tribune photo

Eight students bag roll of honour
Chandigarh, March 23
As many as 865 awards were given to students at the annual prize distribution function of GGDSD College, Sector 32, today. Mr Krishan Mohan, IAS,
Home-cum-Education Secretary, UT Chandigarh gave away the prizes to the students. Nearly 526 students of the college were awarded prizes for their meritorious and excellent performance in various fields during the current session.

Warm send-off to seven Sacred Heart teachers
Chandigarh, March 23
It was a nostalgic day at Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, as it bade farewell to seven of its teachers, here today. 


Teachers of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, interact with the Principal, Sister Sebstina, at their farewell function held at the school premises in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

Seminar held
Chandigarh, March 23
The Department of Political Science, under the UGC Special Assistance Programme, began a two-day national seminar on “Politics of globalization, identity and development”, here today.

COURTS

high court
Status quo ordered on UT move to acquire land
Chandigarh, March 23
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered status quo on the move of the UT Administration to acquire land in Kishangarh village for the purpose of IT Park as well as beautification of the Sukhna choe.

CULTURE

Rich customs of Kerala come alive
Chandigarh, March 23
The rich cultural traditions of Kerala came alive during the 14th Pratishtha Mahotsavam and shobha yatra celebrations organised by the Sree Ayyappa Samajam, Sector 47 today.

Devotees offer prayers on the occasion of 14th installation ceremony and shobha yatra celebrations organised at Sree Ayyappa Samajam in Sector 47 on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

LEISURE

City-based Ayushman Khurrana who was selected as MTV Roadie was given a motorbike on Wednesday at Charisma Gold Wheels, Industrial Area, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Inspired strokes
This is surely a season of art exhibitions and all classy ones at that. After the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi displayed some fine talent from the region a few days ago, it was the turn of Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi to get the best possible fare for its show that began today at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16.

NIFDians capture filmi moods
The mega annual awards function of the National Institute of Fashion Designing today saw scintillating performances by its students at Kalagram today.

Scour for liberation
Love and zest for life, its bounties and graces. Stress, strain, tension and unethical means employed to secure gain. But an inquisitive soul looks for the liberation from the bondage.

A news too good to be believed
Twentytwo-year-old Narinder Singh of Amritsar has won a brand new Mercedes Benz C Class Car under the Airtel mega celebration offer.

HEALTH

World TB Day observed
Chandigarh, March 23
The Department of Community Medicine, PGI, observed the World TB Day at Indira Colony in collaboration with the State TB Control Society, Sector 22.

Laughter therapy exercises
Chandigarh, March 23
There is good news for residents of Chandigarh and its suburbs. Madan Kataria, president of the International Laughter Club, will demonstrate laughter therapy exercises at the Fragrance Garden, Sector 36, on March 24 at 5.30 p.m.

SPORTS

Sports meet concludes
Chandigarh, March 23
The Ist Inter-NITTTR sports meet–2005 concluded today at NITTTR, Sector 26, Chandigarh, in which competitions in badminton, TT, carom and chess were held.

Chandigarh State Open Games results

ADMINISTRATION

SC panel asks Admn to issue caste certificate to Sandhu
Chandigarh, March 23
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has asked the Chandigarh Administration to issue a Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate to an applicant who was being harassed by an officer in the Administration.

Wahi not acceptable, ministry told
Chandigarh, March 23
A storm is brewing in the bureaucratic circles. The Chandigarh Administration has asked the Union Ministry Home Affairs to send a panel of names of three officers to select the Chairman of the Chandigarh Housing Board.

83 challaned for garbage disposal offence
Chandigarh, March 23
As many as 83 shopkeepers in Sector 17 were challaned by the municipal corporation today for throwing garbage at unauthorised places, an official press note said .