Jalandhar, August 17
Holding the Shiromani Akali Dal responsible for fomenting militancy in Punjab, Mr Parminder Singh, general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), has suggested that the proposed commission announced by the Punjab Chief Minister to identify those who were behind the decade-long militancy, should probe the role of political leaders and others, irrespective of their party affiliations.

“There should be no laxity towards anybody and the commission should be asked to probe the role of all those who fomented trouble in the state for their sheer vested interests and who instigated youths to take up arms with a sole objective of usurping power in one or the other way. It should not spare anybody, whosoever, was behind the dirty game, which pushed Punjab backwards for another 20 years. It should be asked to pinpoint people solely on the basis of their misdeeds,” asserted Mr Parminder Singh while talking to The Tribune 
yesterday.

On the basis of a suggestion extended by the PPCC chief, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, about setting up of a commission to probe as to who was responsible for militancy, Capt Amarinder Singh has already announced that the Punjab Government was planning to set up such a commission.

While Mr Dullo had accused the Akalis of instigating militancy in the state and “misguiding youth”, Mr Parminder Singh said the commission should be particularly asked to work beyond party affiliations and judge the role played by leaders of different political parties and other people.

“I feel the people should be indicted on individual basis, if they were found to be responsible for any misdeeds. Everybody knows about the dirty game played by the Akalis in the name of religion and I don’t think that there is any need to explain more about that,” said Mr Parminder Singh.

Bathinda, August 17
While some shooting enthusiasts are reportedly making a bid to revive a shooting range near Deer Park here, the People For Animals (PFA) has come out against the move stating that it will disturb the ecological balance of the area. However, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rahul Bhandari, denied any plan to revive the shooting range.

Sources said the shooting range located in the Bir Talab area had come up in late 1970s, but was closed within a year. Sources said the Irrigation Department had transferred 236 acres of land to the Forest Department at that time. According to sources, a memo from the commissioner of Public Works to the Chief Engineer, Irrigation Department, stated that the Irrigation Department would retain 120 acres of land for the pond area, while 236 acres of land, which had already been given to the Forest Department, will remain with them. Later, a letter dated November 26, 1973, from the Commissioner of Public Works, again to the Chief Engineer, Irrigation Department, stated that the figures and words ‘236 acres of land’ appearing in earlier memo be replaced with ‘161 acres of land’. Sources said currently only 161 acres were under the possession of the Forest Department as per the land records.

Mr Shekhar Gupta of the PFA said the shooting range had been constructed on plot No. 34 of compartment No. 5, which fell within 161 acres of the forest land. He said the shooting range was abandoned after the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, came into being, under the Act, no forest land can be put to use for any non-forest purposes without the prior consent of the Central Government. He said the Bir Talab area fell under the classification of the Second Class Forests as per the provisions of the then Patiala Forest Act. He said as the shooting range was a non-forest activity, it could not be raised within a forest. He said the Bir Talab forest housed a Deer Park in which black bucks, cheetals, sambars, and various bird species were kept.

Having a shooting range in the area is in contravention of the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, he added. The PFA has also written to the Bathinda DC, the Chief Secretary, Punjab, and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, in this regard.

Meanwhile, this reporter visited the shooting rang which was in a bad shape. The entire range was cleaned up prior to the Deputy Commissioner’s expected visit. It has been located hardly 300 metres from the Deer Park and any such activity is likely to scare the animals and birds there.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Bhandari, said some people had told him that there was a shooting range in the Bir Talab area, so he just ordered the staff to clean it up.

Mukerian, August 17
Residents of Purana Bhangala village near here have been sitting on dharna in front of the local police station for the past 12 days. The residents are alleging illegal confinement of a youth of their village by the police in a murder case.

The residents while talking to The Tribune alleged that the body of Ravi Kumar who used to work as watchman at a gas agency, was found on August 4 from the office agency located on the Pathankot-Mukerian road.

The hands and legs of the deceased were found tied with a rope and he had been beaten to death with blunt weapons. On August 5 the Mukerain police picked up six youths from the village on suspicion. A girl Puja Rani, was also picked but was released later.

Though the police registered a case against certain persons, all youths were picked up and kept in illegal confinement and allegedly tortured. While three of the arrested youth were released after three days on August 8, two other were released on August 15. One of the youth is kept in police custody.

They villager said they had been staging a dharna since August 5 but were not allowed to meet the detained youth.

The parents of the deceased and villagers in their complaint to the police suspect the involvement of some kin of the owners of the gas agency. However, they have not been picked up for questioning by the police.

The SHO, Mr Paramjit Singh who is the investigating officer, however, denied that the youths were kept in illegal custody. He said they were summoned to the police station every morning for questioning and allowed to go home in evening.

Chandigarh, August 17
Expressing serious concern over the suicides by farmers in Punjab’s countryside, the National Commission for Minorities has urged the Punjab Government to take effective steps to deal with the problem. As many as three members of the commission discussed the issue with the Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr Jai Singh Gill, and other officers concerned at the Punjab Bhavan here today.

Informed sources said the members of the commission asked the Chief Secretary to collect authentic information regarding the cases of suicides, the reports regarding which had been appearing in the media for the past three years.

Asked about their discussion with the Chief Secretary, the members confirmed that they had discussed the issue of farmers’ suicides with him. They said in a state like Punjab, where green revolution had brought prosperity, especially in rural areas, the phenomenon of suicides should have never occurred. Adequate benefits to farmers should be extended to make agriculture sustainable for them.

The members, Lt-Gen A.M. Sethna (retd), Mr V.V. Augustin and Mr A.R. Sherwani, were in the city to take up issues related to the minority communities with the Governments of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Administration.

Certain specific complaints made to the commission by the Punjab Rights Forum, a platform of human rights and political organisations, regarding the alleged false implications of Sikh youths in recent cases of sedition and the Explosives Act by the Punjab Police and the Chandigarh Police were also taken up with the authorities concerned. The victims, Paramjit Singh, Baljit Singh and Bholi, wife of Kamaljit Singh, a physically challenged person, were produced before the members.

The commission also assured the leaders of the Sikh community that their demand for setting up special facilitating cell in the Delhi office of the commission to provide relief and rehabilitate the victims of the 1984 riots would be taken up.

General Sethna said various issues relating to education, properties of the Waqf Board, land of graveyard and individual complaints were also taken up with the Chief Secretary and the officers.

Appreciating the state government, General Sethna said the least number of cases of atrocities had been reported from Punjab. After listening to members of various minority communities, he said around 10 individual complaints were taken up with the state government.

Expressing serious concern over the education of Christine girls, Mr Augustin said the Christians in Punjab were neglected as far as reaping the benefits of the development in the state was concerned. He said only 47 per cent of the Christian girls in the state were literate as compared to the national figure of 80 per cent. The Christians had been demanding Scheduled Caste status in the state, he added.

Allaying the fears expressed by members of the Sikh community regarding the statements issued by the VHP that Sikhism was not a separate religion, the commission members said even the government had acknowledged it as a separate religion.

Ludhiana, August 17
Punjab is like to get some relief in the return of a Central loan of Rs 3,800 crore which was spent on the security forces during militancy in the state.

The state government has been pressing the Centre to waive the loan which was spent on the security forces and not on development. It has argued that the state alone had fought militancy to maintain the unity in integrity of the nation.

According to official information, high-level meeting of Punjab Government officials was held in Delhi with officials of the Ministries of Finance and Home to discuss the question of the return of the loan of Rs 3,800 crore to the Centre.

According to sources, a formula has been decided, in principle, under which the period from 1981 to 1995 will be treated as one of militancy and the growth of the total expenditure on the police, the Home Guards, relief measures and the security forces during this period will be totalled. This will be compared with the growth of expenditure before militancy and during the post-militancy period and the difference between the two will be treated as extra expenditure on the security forces to fight militancy. The balance will be adjusted as expenditure on militancy and reimbursed to Punjab.

Enquiries made by The Tribune show that the growth of the expenditure on the police and the Home Guards before militancy in the state in 1981 was 10 per cent. This went up to 14 per cent during militancy. After militancy, the growth of expenditure came down to 11 per cent. The group of officials of the Centre and the state government will examine the whole issue and determine the difference in the expenditure.

The Punjab Government had represented that the expenditure on the police administration had been rising since the reorganisation of the state in 1966. The expenditure also rose during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. There was additional expenditure on the police set-up.

The state government further maintained that the threat perception still persisted. In view of this, the state could not afford to be complacent and needed huge funds for the modernisation of the police force to fight high-tech militancy.

Rajasansi (Amritsar), August 17
Following unprecedented passenger rush, the “Corporate Headquarters, Airport Authority of India” (AAI), Delhi, has approved a sum of Rs 80 crore for the upgrade of Rajasansi International Airport here.

A similar sum of Rs 79.76 crore had earlier been approved for the airport.

The airport has become a lucrative destination for overseas airlines, with a number of new airlines starting their operations here. With 45 flights a week, the volume of passengers has increased manifold and is currently at three lakh per annum — three times more than expected.

Keeping this in view, the original design of the airport is being proposed to be modified with fresh additions.

V.S. Mulekar, who has prepared the project to increase the terminal area and for the state-of-the-art facilities at the airport, said the present terminal building would prove to be inadequate in relation with the passenger statistics and confirmed that a formal approval for the grant was given on August 11.

A majority of the funds would go into increasing the constructed area from the present of 17,500 sq ft to 32,000 sq ft, with an addition of another storey to the incomplete terminal building.

A sum of Rs 28 crore would be utilised on air-conditioning plants and corresponding backup, including a 66 KV power substation.

To give the state-of-the-art look to the interiors, its two stories would be divided using “skalzip” — a new transparent building material with additional insulation. For this, some pillars and certain portion of the roof would be pulled down.

The terminal building would be facilitated with world-class duty-free shopping arcades, four sets of escalators, same number of passenger elevators, four baggage conveyer belts of 60 m in length each, common user terminal (CUT) system with 16 check-in counters (to be increased to 30), world-class weighing scales-cum-X ray machines on conveyor belts, underground public address system, close circuit cameras, smoking zones, cellophane wrapping facility, special toilets for the handicapped, besides baggage reconciliation system.

A new telephone exchange, four “aero-bridges”, instead of the previous one, besides advanced lightening arrestors would be installed.

The project also envisages beautification of approach to the airport, including new lighting, landscaping and fountains.

The current visitors’ hall would be demolished to make way for a new concept of central concourse hall for visitors and passengers. A fee of Rs 30 each would be charged from each visitor there.

A snack bar, cabins for childcare, medical inspection room, smoking zones, office for various airlines besides a restaurant on a 400 sq ft area would also be added.

The current capacity of the airport terminal building was 500 passenger, which would be increased to three times the capacity, added the Airport Director, who had previously upgraded airports at Patna, Bhopal and Goa.

He said the work was expected to begin in six months after estimates, tendering and work awarding were completed. The work would be completed within a year and half from its inception, he added.

POLITICS

Cong MLAs absent at meeting
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 17
The meeting of the District Grievances Committee, chaired by Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Deputy Chief Minister here today lasted only for 20 minutes and looks like a mere formality. Dr Harbans Lal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary., Mr Sadhu Singh Dharmsot Parliamentary Secretary., Mr Bir Devinder Singh, Ms Harbans Kaur Dullo and Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, who are the members of the committee, didn’t attend the meeting.

Even District Congress Committee, president was conspicuous by his absence, whereas SAD MP from the area Sukhdev Singh Libra was present. The other members of the committee felt the absence of these MLAs and termed that either they were not interested in highlighting the grievances of their respective areas or might have some political compulsions.

On a complaint by Mr Gautam regarding the delay in conducting postmortem of a body at the local Civil Hospital, Ms Bhattal directed the Civil Surgeon to immediately suspend the doctor and report to her.

On a complaint regarding misconduct by private octroi contractors, she directed the Executive Officer, Municipal Council Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib, to blacklist the contractors and to impose fine on them and warned that if in future they behaved in this manner, a case should be got registered.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Libra, MP, raised the issue related to the de-silting of canals and distributaries and asked how much amount had been spent on it, the official concerned said Rs 24 Lakh had been spent. Ms Bhattal ordered an enquiry in this regard.

Mr Om Parkash Tangri, Dr KK Khanna and Dr Rajinder Kumar raised the issue related to the development of Bassi Pathana town and Ms Bhattal directed to release Rs 4 Lakh immediately for the drainage of sullage water.

Ms Jaspreet Talwar, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, assured the Chairperson that all the civil and police officials would do their duty dedicatedly and would implement the government.

Sponsored schemes in latter and spirit. They also assured speedy justice to the people.

Bathinda, August 17
With the Punjab State Electricity Board shifting its Cantonment Office to Power House road, people have to sweat it out to pay their bills, as consumers from rural areas, who earlier were making payment at Cantonment Office, have now been asked to pay their bills at the Power House road. This has added to the rush here, as urban consumers were already paying their bills at the office.

Long queues of consumers were witnessed today at the electricity board office on Power House road. When The Tribune visited the office today, people from rural areas like Joganand, Kheta Singh Basti, Govindpura, and Bibiwala, vent their ire against the electricity board for directing them to pay their power bills at the Power House Road office. Balwinder Singh, a resident of Joganand, said earlier they used to pay their bills at Cantonment Office where they had two payment counters and paying power bill was just a matter of minutes. “Now here I am standing in a queue of single counter since 10 in the morning and still not sure whether I would be able to pay the bill or not,” he averred. Raman Singh of the same village said he had come to pay his bill today so as to evade the rush tomorrow, which is the last date. “We are standing in the sun since morning and the board authorities have not even made any arrangement for drinking water,” he rued. Amarjit Singh of Govindpura said he had to delay his urgent work, as today was the last date of paying off the power bill. Still, he wasn’t too hopeful of succeeding in making the payment today. Tarsem Singh of his village said at least half of those standing in the queue would return disappointed, as it wasn’t possible to receive so many bills on a single window. Some women standing in the queue lamented that there was no separate queue for them. A couple of handicapped persons were also spotted in the row of power consumers. Interestingly, the PSEB also has raised a separate cabin for the installation of a machine that would receive power bills, but it hasn’t started working as yet.

When contacted, Xen, Executive Engineer ML Garg, expressed unawareness about the single counter at the Power House road office today and said they would open more payment counters as per requirement. He said the machine to accept power bills had been installed and they were awaiting its software. 

Chandigarh, August 17
The bureaucracy and politicians are reluctant to share power with the municipal bodies and panchayats, thus denying them the power to govern themselves. This was the opinion expressed by Mr Surinder Singla, Minister for Finance and Planning, Punjab, while speaking at the national seminar on “Capacity building of the local self-government institutions in Punjab” here today.

Despite the relevant amendments to the Constitution, state after state in the country has refused powers to the municipal bodies that could have resulted in the formation of three tiers of the government — central, state and local. Mr Singla said he saw no logic as to why a decision taken by a municipal body should come for ratification to the state bureaucracy. “Does the municipal body really need a state authority to decide on their matters?” questioned Mr Singla.

Speaking in the tone of the economist rather than a populist, Mr Singla said, “I want that the power to use the funds and decide where to use them should be with the local bodies.” He also went on to question the policy of the Central Government under which Ludhiana has been selected among the 60 cities across the country for a performance-linked grant.

Mr Singla opined that the Central Government should not pick up cities randomly. All money should be equally distributed and according to the need of the states.

In smaller municipal areas or panchayats, politicians have been doling out charity and this is what Mr Singla said he wanted to change. “These small sums do not lead to no any all-round development. We need a concerted effort.” The problem, he admitted, was of arranging finances. “People have to start paying user charges for drinking water, sewerage systems and solid waste disposal,” he added.

Meanwhile, during the seminar, that is being held at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), it was presented that the process of institutionalisation of reforms was rather slow in Punjab as well as in Haryana. The internal revenues generated by the panchayats were very poor. A large part of the money generated by panchayats was from the lease money of shamlat (common) lands.

In Punjab, supervisory functions of six departments were handed over to panchayats in January 2004. This does not give them any financial powers or functions. The apprehension is about the management capacity of the panchayats. On the other hand, no serious efforts are made to enhance the capacity of the elected representatives.

Mr Sanjayinder Singh Chahal, Chairman, Panchayat Samiti, Patiala, said, “We are running out of patience waiting for the devolution of powers to the municipal and panchayati bodies. Even the supervisory role given for the six departments is a mere eyewash.”

Kapurthala, August 17
Hundreds of migratory birds that are expected to arrive in their winter home of Kanjli wetland are likely to get a cool surprise this year.

For the birds will get a vast clear water surface to feed, roost and rest, 
thanks to a cleanliness drive being launched by the district administration in association with 
local community, NGOs, social workers, panchayat members, and students and staff from nearby schools.

The eight-day “shramdaan”, beginning August 21, will be a unique example of cooperation and perhaps the only way to restore the lake.

The publicity regarding the drive is being made by word of mouth so that maximum associations could be attracted to join in to uproot the hyacinth and wild growth from the wetland.

A meeting in this regard is being convened on the banks of the lake tomorrow where officials of the administration, including those from canals and drainage wings, local help groups and environmentalists will discuss the various techniques to be adopted to get rid of the water hyacinth that has choked the entire length of the wetland.

The wetland hardly attracts any visitors for boating or otherwise due to extensive wild growth in the area.

The water of the lake is dirty as it remains stagnant due to wild growth of hyacinth.

Some fish had also reportedly died last month in Kanjli due to the suspected mixing of some pollutants in the water. After that, the administration got active and decided to take up the cause on war-footing.

Deputy Commissioner Sameer Kumar said he had written to various local offices, including the Education Department, government and non-government organisations, to take up the social cause and beautify the area, which once used to attract a number of visitors.

He said the drive would be similar to the one that is carried out at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh.

To further augment the process, the canal wing of the Irrigation Department is in the process of buying its own tractor-trailers, motorboats and conveyer belts.

SDO, Canals, S.S. Bhullar said a grant of Rs 10.8 lakh had been released by the Department of Science and Technology for the purchase of mechanical equipment for cleanliness of the wetland area.

But it is not just cleanliness that the visitors can look forward to. A library with a collection of hundreds of books on bird, wildlife and other aspects of environment has also come up in the resort and is now open to students and general public

Akalis attend bhog of Chajju Majra victims
Tribune News Service

Kharar, August 17
The bhog ceremony of those killed by robbers in Chajju Majra village was held today. Akali and Congress leaders gathered in large numbers at the ceremony to pay condolences to Prem Singh’s family. Three members of his family, including his two sons in their early twenties and his 65-year-old brother were bludgeoned to death in a brutal attack by a group of at least 15 persons on August 7. Eight members of the family were injured.

While the police has arrested the two persons named by the family as responsible for the attack, the family is not satisfied with the way the special investigation team (SIT) of the Punjab Police is conducting the investigations.

Akali leaders today said in case the Punjab Police was not able to give the family justice, they would intervene.

The injured family members have over the past fortnight changed their statements regarding the incident. While initially all of them had said that they had not seen the faces of the assailants, now the family is squarely blaming Ravinder and Chajju, the two arrested by the police, for the crime.

The SIT is, however, focussed on catching a particular criminal tribe known to attack in this fashion. Highly placed sources pointed out that the tribe that had carried out this crime had been identified and the weapons used by them during the attack also found from a particular source.

The robbers, all clean-shaven men in their twenties, armed with a gun, batons and iron rods had struck at two more houses in the neighbourhood that night, decamping with the valuables.

Among those who attended the bhog today were local MLA Bir Devinder Singh, Mr Kiranbir Kang, Mr Amrik Mohali, Mr Bubby Badal, Mr Bhajan Singh Shergill, Mr Jora Singh Bhullar, Jathedar Prem Singh and Kharar MC chief Charanjit Singh.

Bathinda, August 17
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rahul Bhandari, today asked the District Social Security Officer to probe into the cases in which ineligible people were drawing pensions and ensure the payment of pension to genuine beneficiaries.

The DC stated this while presiding over a meeting of the district grievances committee.

He also ordered the DDPO, Mr M.S. Grewal, to identify ponds in the district and initiate measures to remove illegal encroachments around them.

The DC directed the Executive Engineer of the Sewerage Board to get sewers cleaned.

The MC and the Health Department were told to take steps to prevent the outbreak of diseases like dengue and malaria.

Abohar, August 17
The BKU and its allied trade unions here have deferred the proposed “chakka jam” till Monday following an assurance from DSP Narinder Pal Singh that the Sadar police would make efforts within the next four days to trace Maninder Singh who had allegedly been kidnapped on August 1 to prevent his appearance in a court on August 3.

Maninder (19) was pursuing a claim for a share in ancestral property as his father had allegedly deserted his first wife and had got married again.

The assurance averted a clash that looked imminent between BKU workers and the police over the “chakka jam” that was to be executed today.

The BKU activists had embarrassed the police last week by blocking buses from the municipal general bus stand for half hour and then gheraoing the sadar police station.

The administration, this time, was prepared to meet any situation. Entrance to Nehru Park was blocked and a police van fitted with the public address system was parked in from of the gate. Policemen, deployed at the park, carried SLRs and firearms, besides lathis. Mr Major Singh Masaun, Executive Magistrate, was also on duty at the park.

The activists lambasted the police for not making efforts to find Maninder Singh after an FIR had been registered against a couple.

Mr Gurbux Singh, CPM activist, wondered why the police had to make such arrangements when it could have easily nabbed those named in the FIR or traced Maninder.

Pathankot, August 17
The police has managed to crack the mystery of the murder of maid Rajni in Prem Nagar. The body of the maid was recovered from the house of the Subdivisional Officer (SDO) of the Public Health Department where she used to work.

Relatives of the deceased had accused the SDO of killing the maid. They held a protest in the town following which the police registered a case against SDO Ashok Kumar and his wife.

Gurdaspur SSP Pramod Bhan, addressing a press conference here today, said that during investigation, both accused in the FIR were found innocent. The wife of the accused SDO was present at the kitty party at the time of murder while he was on duty in his office.

After both accused were found to be innocent, the police turned its attention towards other suspects. Anil Kumar, an alleged paramour of the girl, was rounded up for questioning. He told the police that Rajan, a youth residing in the neighbourhood of the accused, used to tease her. Rajni had humiliated him in public many times but he did not desist from teasing her.

On the information provided by Anil Kumar, the police picked up Rajan, for questioning. During interrogation, Rajan confessed his crime. He said finding Rajni alone on August 5, he entered the SDO’s house. She tried to raise an alarm. He, however, gagged her.

In the scuffle, when she slapped him, he strangled her and absconded from the site.

Ludhiana, August 17
The city police here has arrested a general secretary of the Bangalore District Congress Committee in a two-year-old case of duping a doctor’s family of Rs 22 lakh, which she allegedly took to get admission in the MBBS course for a son of the complainant.

The police hopes that with investigation and questioning of the accused, a nation-wide scandal of cash-for-medical course would come to light. The police claims to have information about several other such complaints.

A police team arrested accused woman, Laxmi Devi Amma from Bangalore last evening. SP (Detective) Gurpreet Singh told The Tribune that the police was investigating if the woman had fleeced other persons also.

Though the case was registered two years ago, the woman could be arrested only after a court here issued arrest warrant against her. Sources said the woman enjoyed political clout and it was difficult to arrest her without court orders.

The complainant Inder Jit Kaur and her husband Dr Anoop Singh, who belong to Dasuha village had in the FIR stated that the accused had taken Rs 22 lakh from them to ensure admission in MBBS course in a prestigious institution for their son.

The SP said she never fulfilled the promise and refused to return the money also after which the complaint was filed.

Laxmi Devi talking to The Tribune admitted that some money had exchanged hands but it was some brokers or middlemen who took the money. She said she never sought money and never took it.

Laxmi Devi appeared composed and stressed that she has been falsely implicated at the behest of her political rivals. She said she never eluded arrest.

Amritsar, August 17
At least five students of Khalsa College, who were protesting against the college management for refusing admission, were today rounded up by the police when they tried to bring the students out of the classes for strike.

The police deployed in and outside the college pushed the protesting students out of the college. Agitated over this, they blocked the main G T Road and traffic remained suspended for more than an hour.

After about an hour, the students were let off with a warning.

Meanwhile, the college management has hardened its stand over giving admission to the students. Dr Daljit Singh, Principal, at a staff meeting, decided to implement the academic council’s decision not to open fresh admission. In a statement, the Principal claimed that classes and examinations were held in a peaceful atmosphere.

Parampal Singh, an agitating student, alleged that the Principal wanted to create an atmosphere of confrontation between the students and the police. He claimed that the district units of the Sikh Student Federation and the National Students Union of India had supported their agitation. He alleged that the management was making false statements that they had failed for two consecutive years in their respective classes. He said all students were eligible for admission.

Law graduates pay for degree
Rubinder Gill
Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 17
A senior lawyer has charged Punjabi University of fleecing students of law in the name of law. Students who have just passed their three-year LLB course have been asked to pay a fee of Rs 1,000 by the university if they want to have their degree now. Six months later they can get it for free. With the results out, students require the degree to enrol with the Bar Council. More than 200 students have passed the examination.

Mr Joginder Singh Billing, a senior advocate here, issued a notice to the university on the behalf of his son, who had cleared the three-year course. He said the university’s uncalled demand was an act of blackmail.

“When degree certificate can be supplied without deposit of any amount after six months, why and under what circumstances and what rules of procedure the university is claiming Rs 1,000 from law graduates to issue degree certificates in case they want it now.”

The university authorities have not responded to the notice that was sent to the Registrar, the Vice-Chancellor and the Dean, Academic Affairs, on August 3.

Detailed marks cards have been given to the students but the registration with the Bar Council requires a degree certificate.

Prof Baldev Singh, Co-ordinator, Examinations, Punjabi University, said according to the rule students had to pay Rs 1,000 if they wanted their degree in absentia or if they wanted it before the convocation.

“We give the degrees after the Academic Council passes the result. But if you want your degree before time, then the rule, which has been in place since December 13, 1997, says a fee of Rs 1,000 would be charged.”

The Academic Council will give the all clear in September or October.

“Earlier we would give provisional degrees for Rs 500 but we have stopped it now. The court would send the provisional degrees to us for verification before the registration. It was found that a majority of the students didn’t come back for their original degrees and they kept on gathering dust with us. To eliminate it we have started issuing a regular degree instead.”