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TOP STORIES

Electrician held for Sector 18 murder 
Open switchboards in house gave vital clues
Chandigarh, May 3
Open electricity switchboards in the house of Brij Rani, the murdered old woman in Sector 18 here, may have provided vital clues to the police leading to the arrest of an electrician of the same sector.                                       Punit Mittal

Girls outshine boys in Plus Two exams
Chandigarh, May 3
Girls outdid the boys at the plus two examinations conducted by the Haryana Board. The result was declared here today. While Amandeep Kaur of New India Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, bagged the first position in the humanities stream by scoring 77 per cent, Ruchi Garg of the same school topped in the commerce stream by scoring 77.6 per cent and Sunil Kumar of Sarthak Senior Secondary School topped the science stream with 75.8 per cent.

Income Tax officials raid five coaching centres
Chandigarh, May 3
Officials of the Income Tax Department today surveyed five private coaching centres in the city and collected documents relating to filing of their income tax returns to tally with actual incomes.

Seven elected unopposed in HC Bar elections
Chandigarh, May 3
All seven posts of executive members (above 10 years) of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association have been filled without a contest as only seven candidates filed their nominations.

COMMUNITY

HUDA removes 190 jhuggis Panchkula, May 3 The anti-encroachment staff of Haryana Urban Development Authority had to repeat the entire exercise of reclaiming land in Old Panchkula, Sector 3 and Sector 11, after encroachments resurfaced within days. About 190 jhuggis were removed in today’s drive. HUDA officials raze illegal constructions near Sector 3, Panchkula, on Tuesday. — A Tribune Photograph.

UT skyline for sale
Act will not increase load on infrastructure
I feel that apartments should be allowed on the houses measuring 1,400 square yards and above as per the UT Apartment Act, 2002. This is so in view of the following reasons.                                      Kapil Khanna

Rejoinder
Ranjit Malhotra was the first to contribute to this series, joins issue with R.P. Malhotra, who argued in these columns on Monday that there was nothing wrong with the ‘UT Apartment Act, 2002’.

Lawyer alleges threat to life
Chandigarh, May 3
The president of the Federation of Lawyers against Corruption (FOLAC) and a local lawyer, Mr Arvind Thakur, who complained to the Punjab Vigilance Bureau against the Ropar SSP and two other police officials, today alleged that he had been receiving threatening phone calls from anonymous callers.

CAT Bar members extend strike till May 13
Chandigarh, May 3
On getting no response from the UPA government on the amendment in the Tribunals Act 1985, which would empower the government to abolish the tribunal and its parallel outfits in the states, the All-India CAT Bar Association today extended its strike till May 13, till the end of the Budget session of Parliament.

Hike in tax exemption limit fails to enthuse city residents
Chandigarh, May 3
The raising of income tax exemption limit by another Rs 10,000 to Rs 1.35 lakh for women and by an additional Rs 35,000 to Rs 1.85 lakh, announced by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, has failed to enthuse city residents.

100 youths from slums to be trained as drivers
Chandigarh, May 3
The Department of Social Welfare, UT, has embarked upon a unique exercise to upgrade the skills of youths from underprivileged sections. Collaborating with Maruti Udyog and Joshi Autozone, which are now training poor youngsters in driving, the department has decided to send for training its own group of 100 unemployed youths from various slums of the city.

Solar equipment displayed Chandigarh, May 3 An exhibition on “Solar energy at work” was organised by the Energy Research center, Panjab University to celebrate international Sun day today. It was aimed at popularising the non-conventional Sources of energy. Prof S.K. Sharma explains functioning of a Solar equipment on the Solar Day Celebration at Panjab University on Tuesday. — A Tribune photo

• Bylanes in UT villages to be concretised

• MC to instal 20 water clusters

• Shopkeeper alleges harassment

• Residents go without water

• Night nakas net 150

CRIME

Nurse booked for cheating youths
Chandigarh, May 3
The Chandigarh police has arrested a nurse, who had allegedly cheated 14 unemployed youths in the name of getting them jobs through a former Union Minister among others VIPS.

3 held under Arms Act
Chandigarh, May 3
The police today arrested three persons under the Arms Act from the high court premises. According to the information, Tarloch Singh, Pal Singh and Major Singh, all residents of Amritsar, were arrested by the police after weapons were found in their Tata Sumo Jeep (HR-26-E-8385) during a search of the vehicle.

14 remanded in judicial custody
Panchkula, May 3
The 14 persons who were arrested yesterday in connection with the burning of a ballot box at Bharaili village on the day of Panchayat poll, have been remanded in to judicial custody.

Man commits suicide
Chandigarh, May 3
Tormented after his younger brother ran away from home, Pardeep, a 22-year-old resident of the Railway colony ended his life by hanging at his house late last night. The victim was alcoholic, said the police.

Two cars stolen
Chandigarh, May 3
Two cars were reportedly stolen from the same sector in the city while in a separate accident a pedestrian died after being hit by a truck; the local police released this information, here, today.

Two phone snatchers held
Chandigarh, May 3
The police arrested two mobile phone snatchers in Sector 28 here late tonight. According to sources, the mobile snatchers, Sony, a resident of Sector 29, and Monty of Sector 28, allegedly snatched the mobile phone set of Mr Rattan Chand Kohli from near the Sector 27 and 28 roundabout at about 9.45 p.m.

EDUCATION

PU panel on ‘funds diversion’ fails to meet
Chandigarh, May 3
A month has lapsed since Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University Prof K.N. Pathak, constituted a committee to look into the alleged “misappropriation” of funds to the extent of Rs 36 lakh in the name of a non-existent course.

Glitter and glamour at school function

Chandigarh, May 3 Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 31, celebrated its annual day 2004-2005 with glitter and glamour at the Lecma Auditorium here today. The programme commenced with an prayers to goddess Saraswati. The tinytots extended a lively song-dance welcome to all the guests. The principal Dr (Ms) S.P. Shergill welcomed the chief guest and the parents. Girls of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 31, perform Kumaon dance at their annual function held at 3BRD Lecma Theatre in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

COURTS

PUDA told to pay Rs 53,000 compensation 
Chandigarh, May 3
Holding the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) responsible for deficiency in service, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has awarded a compensation of Rs 53,000 to a Mohali resident.

LEISURE

Dancing their way to happiness

Kalagram is resonating with the sounds of music these days, and at the heart of revelry are 200 children from the slums of Chandigarh. The occasion seems routine but is not really one, certainly not for these children who hardly get to see the face of fun. For them, the word “workshop” spells nothing less than “celebration”. Slum children attend a dance workshop organised by the North Zone Cultural Centre at Kalagram, Chandigarh, on Tuesday.

Students are not trained to think, says Meera Nanda
“Our education system does not awaken students. Neither are the students trained to think or to reason. They are given prepared answers and told to follow it.

HEALTH

Technologists seek medical council
Chandigarh, May 3
The Chandigarh unit of the All-India Medical Laboratory Technologists’ Association today demanded the formation of the Council of Medical Laboratory Technology for uniformity in the diagnostic tests all over the country.

SPORTS

Parul Verma wins Super Series tennis

Chandigarh, May 3 Parul Verma of Chandigarh cruised past Pulkit Mishra in the pre-quarters round of boys’ under 16 AITA Super Series Tennis tournament being held at CLTA, Sector 10, here today. Niroshita Mandala of Andhra Pradesh struggled hard to overcome the challenge put forth by Prachi Nadkarni of Maharashtra but ultimately lost the tie at 5-7, 6-4, 3-6. Parul Verma of Chandigarh plays a shot against Pulkit from Delhi in under-16 AITA Super-series Tennis Tournament in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Photo by Manoj Mahajan

Bedi Club beat Sun Club
Kharar, May 3
A fine half century by Vineet Soni (56) enabled Bedi Cricket Club to beat Sun Cricket Club by 2 wickets in First Rajesh and Mukesh Memorial Cricket tournament at Khalsa Senior secondary School here yesterday.

Sepak Takraw championship on May 7
Chandigarh, May 3
The Chandigarh Sepak Takraw Association will hold the 4 the Chandigarh Senior State Sepak Takraw Championship for Rev. Samuel John Trophy at Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, here, on May 7 and 8.

PSCC lift MCC cup
Chandigarh, May 3
A fine knock by Gagan Bassi (52) helped the Punjab Secretariat Cricket Club (PSCC) to lift the MCC Cup by defeating the Municipal Corporation Cricket Club at Cricket Stadium, Sector 16, here, today.

ADMINISTRATION

UT notifies bylaws on debris disposal
Chandigarh, May 3
The Chandigarh Administration today notified the Disposal of Construction Material, Malba and Debris Byelaws, 2005. These lay down the norms for disposal of debris and also lay down the fines for anybody violating the orders.

Sale of cut fruits banned
Chandigarh, May 3
The office of the Deputy Commissioner today passed an order prohibiting the sale of food and drinking items in the open without safe cover.

MC re-invites tender for sanitation
Panchkula, May 3
The tenders for sanitation works in Municipal limits of Panchkula have been re-invited for May 6. The tenders could not be allotted today as none of the contractors could fulfil the conditions laid down by Municipal Council.