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CVC raps UT
Chandigarh, October 19 A communication to this regard has been forwarded to the Administration. The Administration on its behalf has written to all the departments concerned, asking for reports on “intensive examination of quarterly progress reports”. The office of the Home Secretary has sought that “you are requested to kindly send the quarterly progress report of works\purchases by the prescribed date”. Senior officials in the municipal corporation have no information about as whether the reports had been submitted. The transport wing also has no records of the reports being maintained regularly. The Engineering Department, however, said all records were updated quarterly. Sources said that in some cases the reports had been maintained in certain departments but these were not forwarded to the Vigilance Commission. Sources also said no reports pertaining to the Chandigarh Housing Board had been forwarded to the commission. An official letter earlier this year specified that reports should be submitted for “civil works costing more than Rs 1 crore, electrical/mechanical and allied work costing more than Rs 30 lakh, stores contracts costing more than Rs 2 crore and horticulture works costing more than Rs 2 lakh. It has been pointed out that “all service contracts, including hiring and leasing of cycle stands, catering, transportation contracts and supply of medicines to hospitals should also be reported”. The commission has underlined that the cost of the product was the actual tendered cost and not the estimated figures. The work progress needed to be reported quarterly, even if there was no work done on ground. A senior official said there was nothing wrong in submitting the financial records to a central agency because it was an effective method of keeping a regular check. The UT Administration, known for a rather clean image, has also seen cases of alleged financial bungling in the past, the Engineering branch being one of them involving a former Chief Engineer. UT officials themselves at different fora have pointed out the need for announcing the financial expenditure at regular intervals in a year. A senior official said: “The need for regular financial statements was made to ensure that the budget was spent in a uniform manner”.
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Rates for ODI tickets approved
Mohali, October 19 The meeting was presided over by Mr I.S. Bindra, President of the association, as the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, who is Chairman of the committee, did not turn up due to ill health. In the meeting, 16 different sub-committees have been constituted to assist the Organising Committee. The ticket rates recommended by the association, have also been approved by the committee. The rates would be as follows: AC lounge — Rs 10,000; Terrace Block — Rs 2,500; North Block — Rs 1,500; Chair Block — Rs 500; Members’ Block — 500, General Block — Rs 100 and Students’ Block — Rs 60. The sale of tickets for AC lounge and Chair Block will start from October 21 whereas the General Block tickets will be available from October 23. The second match of the seven One-Day International series will start at 2.30 pm on October 28 at the stadium.
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Councillors withdraw no-trust motion against MC chief
Panchkula, October 19 The failure of the no-confidence motion is yet another blow to the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Chander Mohan, in his bastion. The four times MLA from here, Mr Mohan, had reportedly supported the motion against his party man, Mr Bhandari. Mr Mohan had earlier opposed the candidature of Mr Bhandari for the MC chief post and councillors owing
allegiance to him had not attended the meeting when Mr Bhandari was elected as the president in June this year. Mr Bhandari had been supported by the INLD Councillors. Later, Mr Bhandari claimed that he would report about the role of Mr Mohan to Congress President, Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. “He has joined hands with the BJP against his own party men, which amounts to indiscipline,” he had alleged. Eight INLD councillors — Ms Kuljit Waraich, Mr Sunil Talwar, Mr Vikas Chaudhary, Mr Balwinder Singh, Mr Mahinder Singh, Mr Gomti Prasad, Ms Sharanjit Kaur and Mr Amar Singh — today abstained from the meeting. Ms Seema Chaudhary, former MC chief (from INLD) came for the meeting, but left after marking her presence. Senior INLD leader Pradeep Chaudhary said the INLD had supported Mr Bhandari on the issue of development. “We had helped him become the president so that development of Panchkula takes place. We are giving him another chance now,” he said. The 10 councillors owing allegiance to Mr Mohan alongwith three BJP councillors, who had moved the no-confidence motion, gave a memorandum for withdrawal of the motion after they failed to muster support from INLD councillors. However, the memorandum was submitted to the Presiding Officer, Mr Praveen Kumar, ten minutes after the meeting had begun. “We are yet to examine if the no-confidence motion will be considered withdrawn, or if it has failed. The 13 councillors submitted the memorandum 10 minutes after the meeting had begun, and after four councillors had already marked their presence for the meeting,” said Mr Praveen Kumar. He said it was only after looking into the provisions of Haryana Municipal Act that he could decide if the motion would be considered as failed or withdrawn. Meanwhile, the 10 Congress-supported councillors — Mr R.K. Kakkar, Mr V.K. Kapoor, Mr Naresh Rawal, Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Om Prakash, Mr Dalbir Singh, Mr Pawan Mittal, Ms Manvir Gill, Ms Amoljeet Kaur and Ms Jalmegha Dahiya, and BJP Councillors — Mr C.B. Goel and Mr V.K. Sood — said they had withdrawn the motion after the INLD decided not to support it. They claimed that initially the INLD top brass had joined hands with Mr Mohan to oust Mr Bhandari, but later they (INLD) decided to support him.
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Who pockets mishap victims’ belongings?
Chandigarh, October 19 Efforts to trace the valuables prove futile. Worse, the relatives do not even come to know whether the stuff has been taken away by the passersby, the hospital staff initially dealing with the victims, or by the cops themselves. Of course, no police official has so far been proceeded against for pocketing the belongings of an accident victim. Otherwise also, senior functionaries of the Chandigarh Police vehemently claim that no police personnel has ever taken away the stuff belonging to any accident victim. They, however, admit that the number of cases where belongings of accident victims are pocketed by “unscrupulous persons” is fairly high. Quoting rough figures, they say 186 road accidents had been reported to the Chandigarh Police from January till April this year. Otherwise, over 141 fatal mishaps had occurred in the city last year and in a substantial number of these accidents, valuables belonging to the victims were found missing. In case of Pawan Kumar Malik, who was working as a senior clerk with The Tribune, the family discovered that a gold chain and a bracelet, worn by the victim before he met with a fatal accident in Sector 22 last Friday, were missing. Though senior officers were informed about the theft almost immediately by the victim’s family, the men-in-khaki failed to trace the belongings. “The cops did not even bother to register a case of theft under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code,” Malik’s family adds. Quoting the provisions of law, legal luminaries in the city insist that the police is duty bound to register a first information report in the matter. They add that the Supreme Court of India, in its judgements,
Justifying the stand taken by the police, a senior officer says they are looking into the matter and will register a case, if required, after holding a preliminary inquiry in the matter. The officer adds that in all probability Malik’s belongings were taken away by passersby before the men-on-duty reached the spot. “In any case, the cops responsible for taking Malik to the hospital have an impeccable record,” the officer adds. “Their integrity cannot be doubted”.
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Woman officer faces disciplinary action
Chandigarh, October 19 Disciplinary action has been recommended against the officer, Maj Dimple Singla, serving with the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Department, the Army’s legal department. This is perhaps the first instance in the Army where disciplinary action is being initiated against a lady officer. The COI, headed by the Brigadier Aviation, Western Command, Brig R. Chauhan, concluded. Sources said that the officer had repeatedly refrained from giving her statements before the COI on some legal pretext or the other, and had also written to senior officers in this regard. After giving her “adequate opportunity and time” to get her statements recorded, the COI, under provisions of the Army Act, decided to dispense with her statements. Sources said the clinching evidence which established her culpability was one of the witnesses producing a copy of the entire hand-written record of the GCM proceedings in the case of Rajiv Kumar of 72 Armoured Regiment before the COI. Such records are made by the Judge Advocate in their own hand during the hearings and are typed out later. Major Singla, allegedly in connivance with her husband, a practicing local lawyer, was accused of demanding Rs 2 lakh from the family of the jawan for saving him. She was the judge advocate in the trial. She was also accused of arm-twisting army-men facing trials into hiring lawyers suggested by them. The matter came to light after her husband allegedly approached Rajiv Kumar, of 72 Armoured Regiment who was being tried by a general court martial at Dehradun for shooting his colleague, and coerced him into hiring a lawyer recommended by him for Rs 45,000. Against Army regulations, the lawyer was also driven by the officer from Chandigarh to Dehradun to attend the court proceedings. The lawyer, however, left the case after a couple of hearings. When the accused’s family called up Singla’s husband, he reportedly demanded Rs 2 lakh to save him. As reported by The Tribune earlier, the accused was awarded a life sentence. In another case pertaining to the trial of Hav Chandran, who was charged for stealing Army rations, she was removed mid-way during the trial after the unit conducting the trial reported actions on her part which were deemed to be inappropriate. She had established her office in a village several kilometers away from the trial venue. When she was replaced in the trial by a Lieutenant Colonel, the accused had objected to it strongly. During the COI, the accused as well as his defending officer, a captain, testified that she was paid Rs 40,000. They however, added, that she returned the money later.
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Godfrey Phillips Awards go to the brave
Chandigarh, October 19 Ask him how he dared live electric wires to save a precariously trapped five year old Savita and he makes a heartwarming statement: “I did not think I was saving another’s life. I thought I was saving my own, said Jagjit, this year’s special physical bravery award winner who was earlier rewarded for by Kurukshetra SP. In Chandigarh to receive the award from Haryana Governor Dr A.R. Kidwai today, Jagjit rushed to recall the moment that brought him face to face with death. “I was attending a wedding in the neighbourhood when I heard a girl screaming. When I rushed to the terrace I found her caught amidst naked wires hanging out from a transformer. She was about to die when I pulled her hard, but I also got trapped.” Finally Jagjit managed to rescue the girl. Both of them remained unconscious for nearly two hours after the incident. Jai Bhagwan Sharma from Panipat narrated his story as if it were another routine occurrence in his life devoted to service. Its ramifications were life saving anyway. Last year he jumped into the Hansi Branch canal to save a woman who wanted to commit suicide due to her in laws’ harassment. Not only did he save her, he also counselled her in-laws to value her dignity. Ashwani Kumar from Yamunanagar saved many others from perishing. He was filling petrol in his scooter when a petrol dispensing machine caught fire. He fought the fire till the Fire Brigade reached. His namesake Ashwani Kumar from Jhajjar also received this year’s physical bravery award for rescuing two women from a house on fire. Topping the list of social bravery award winners from Haryana this year is Mr Praveen Bahl who, despite 100 per cent disability, has been serving the cause of the disabled for decades. He is credited with raising the first cricket team of physically disabled persons from Haryana. Mr Krishan Sharma from Hisar won the award for his gesture of quenching the thirst of people in peak summer months when he goes to public places with a jeep loaded with cold drinking water. Triveni Kala Sangam, Hansi, won the award for environment conservation. From Punjab, this year’s physical bravery award winners are — Karam Singh from Chandigarh who fought fire to save lives in Manimajra last year and Gurcharan Singh who braved the threat of the gun while nabbing an accused on the run from Districts Courts, Patiala. For social acts of courage, Mukesh Kumar, Raj Kumar Aggarwal and Ajay Mittal were rewarded.
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7,000 bottles of liquor seized
Panchkula, October 19
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Region donates liberally for quake victims
Chandigarh, October 19 According to the CII, relief material sent from here includes a 28-ton consignment valued to over Rs 1.25 crore. The relief material includes 500 tents, woolen items, medicines and mineral water. The relief material was airlifted with the co-operation of the Government of India and the Indian Air Force. Safexpress and R.E. Rogers organised the entire collection, packaging and transportation of the material from across the country. Mr M.P.S Chawla, president of the Chandigarh Industrial Association, has sent a cheque of Rs 11,000 to The Tribune favouring “Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund”. The association is motivating its members to come out individually as well as collectively to donate liberally for the people who have suffered material and personal losses in this natural calamity. Punjab’s milk corporation, MILKFED has donated five metric tonnes of skimmed milk powder for the earthquake victims. MILKFED has also stepped up supplies to cater to the demand of the Army and civil market in Kargil, Uri and other parts of the quake-affected areas. From the city, a six-member CII team has setup its base at Srinagar to help in relief operations and make an on-ground assessment of the requirements in the next stages of reconstruction, rehabilitation and capacity building. In addition to its office in Srinagar, the CII has also set up a base camp in Uri for better co-ordination and on - site distribution of the relief material, local CII officials disclosed. The relief material is being distributed in Tangdhar, Uri and Trahagam. The CII is working very closely with the State Administration and the Indian Army for the relief operations. CII’s NGO partner on - ground, the Human Aid Society, has a team of volunteers, has been working round the clock to support the relief efforts. The CII has been working with the society for the past four years on a project in Baramulla for the education of children affected by the ongoing strife in Jammu & Kashmir. Earlier, a consignment of 2,800 blankets was distributed to the affected families in the Baramulla district by the CII and its NGO partner. More relief material is being organised and will be sent by end of the week. Member companies of the CII are pitching in from all corners of the country to support its relief initiatives on a long term and rehabilitative basis. As a part of its phase two operations, the CII will provide the skills and kit the affected people with the requisite tools, which will enable them to rebuild their homes. The CII’s earlier experience with relief efforts in Bhuj earthquake, tsunami tragedy and Mumbai floods has helped it leverage the learning and enabled it to respond holistically to the needs of the affected.
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‘Undue’ promotions: cops seek help of Information Act
Chandigarh, October 19 They have sought details of the departmental promotion committee (DPC) proceedings and records on the basis of which they were “ignored and denied promotion”. The UT Administration, while denying the allegations, had earlier clarified in a press statement that the relevant rules and instructions had been strictly followed in this regard. Sources in the police said the two senior inspectors of the UT Police had moved their application to the Central Public Information Officer, taking advantage of the Right to Information Act, 2005, wanting to know the details of the DPC proceedings. One of the inspectors had filed his application yesterday, while another filed it today. Preferring anonymity, one of the inspectors added the they had sought the details on the basis of which their annual confidential reports (ACRs) were evaluated and their claims were taken into consideration. Describing it as “injustice”, one of the affected persons said they wanted to find out why their claims were ignored and where they went wrong in the entire process. Since day one of the promotions of inspectors to the rank of DSP, the affected persons have been alleging “favouritism” and have termed it as a biased exercise. Giving details of the seniority list, they added that Inspector Parmod Kumar was on the top on the list followed by Inspector KIP Singh, Inspector Jasbir Singh Cheema, Inspector Shivraj Singh Sidhu, Inspector Sandal Singh and Inspector Prem Singh Malik. There is a CBI inquiry pending against Inspector Jasbir Singh Cheema and a departmental inquiry against Inspector Shivraj Singh Sidhu. The UT Administration, in an official release, had made it clear that the promotions were carried out on the basis of the recommendations of the DPCs. As per the guidelines of the DPC, they decide their own methods and procedures for objective assessment of the suitability of the candidates. While merit has to be recognised and rewarded, advancement in an officer’s career should not be regarded as a matter of course, but should be earned by dint of hard work, good conduct and result-oriented performance as reflected in the annual confidential record and based on strict and rigorous selection process. About the ACR, they maintained that the average confidential reports cannot be regarded as complimentary to the officer, as such a performance is regarded as a routine one and undistinguished. It is only the performance that is above “average” and, performance that is actually noteworthy, which entitles an officer to recognition and suitable rewards in the matter of promotion.
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Land acquisition move: residents to approach Sonia
Chandigarh, October 19 Highlighting their issue, the general secretary of the Deep Complex Welfare Association, Mr B.S. Rawat, said the land which the government proposes to acquire had been purchased by
middle class families out of their hard earned money. “On the one hand, the Administration has announced plans to rehabilitate slum
dwellers, and on the other hand it was uprooting people who were living on their own land”, he added. Residents said in December 1992, the Administration had constituted a high level committee to examine the suggestions necessary to extend the lal dora of UT villages. Demanding a
practical and humane approach to their problem, the residents have sought time to meet Ms Gandhi.
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Kidney patient needs help
Chandigarh, October 19 A small farmer from Bihar, Virender, now penniless, cannot think of any means to afford a kidney transplant, which will cost him Rs 3.5 lakh.
Virender, who is staying at Janta Sarai, room number 12 in the PGIMER, earns his living by growing vegetables on a small
piece of land. Meanwhile, doctors at the PGI have asked him to undergo a kidney transplant at the earliest, failing which his life can be in danger. His wife is ready to donate a kidney, but the family cannot afford to pay more than 3 lakh required for medicines and the
transplant. Those willing to make donation may contact the Public Relations Officer, PGI, at telephone number 0172-2756003.
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War game centre being set up
Chandigarh, October 19 Army officers told media persons that the complex, being constructed at a cost of about Rs 7 crore, is expected to be completed in 18 months. Its foundation stone was laid by the previous GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lieut-Gen S. Pattabhiraman, shortly before he moved to Army Headquarters. The centre, officers said, would serve as a secure venue for holding brain storming sessions as well as double up as an operations centre if the need so arose. The Army, at present, does not have any dedicated and requisitely equipped centre to conduct war games. Conventional operation rooms and conference halls information headquarters are used for the purpose. With the Army adopting a network centric battlefield concept, revolving around real time flow of information and intelligence, the planning and conduct of operations have also undergone a change.
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Man alleges police brutality
Mohali, October 19 The complainant further stated that he, along with his nephew, had gone to his sister’s house in Sector 57 in the evening on October 17. A relative of his brother-in-law suggested him to arrive at a compromise with the policemen against whom he (Buta Singh) had lodged a complaint about a year ago. He alleged that when he refused in this regard, the police was called by his sister’s in-laws who, then allegedly beat him up and his nephew along with the police. Later he was taken to the police station where he was again allegedly beaten up. The SP could not be contacted for comments despite efforts. The SHO, Mr Jagdish Singh, however, said that Buta Singh was not beaten up by the police and was levelling baseless allegations. He said that Buta Singh had a clash with his sister’s in-laws. Both the parties were taken to the police station and let off later. Both the parties were asked to come the next day so that statements could be recorded. He said that his sister’s in-laws got their statements recorded yesterday but Buta Singh instead went to the GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh, and got himself admitted. A police party was sent to the hospital for recording his statements during which he made no allegation against the police. Buta Singh’s statement was signed by his mother. He said Buta Singh today changed his statement in the complaint to the SP.
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Lapses detected in tehsil office
Mohali, October 19 Mr P.P. Singh, Deputy Director, Land Record, said the registers had not been properly maintained though no major shortcoming was noticed during the check. The cash in the office was also checked. Only one registration was done by the office till 3.15 p.m. He said that such surprise checks were conducted at tehsil offices at other places also during peak hours and officials were made aware of the shortcomings. He said the team for the surprise check today was headed by Mr Arvinder Singh Bains, Director, Land Record. Work came to a standstill during the checking as nobody was allowed to enter the tehsil office. People were seen waiting outside the office in connection with registration work. As the Tehsildar had gone to Ropar in connection with a meeting, the registration work had already got adversely affected in the first half of the day.
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Money withdrawn from bank by forging signatures
Chandigarh, October 19 Giving details the sources in the police said Mr Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Sector 37-C lodged a complaint to the police about a month-and-half ago in this regard. The police registered a case of theft, cheating and criminal conspiracy under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against Sarabjit Singh, a resident of Sector 37, and Lakhbir Singh of Sector 22-D. Mr Gurmeet Singh had alleged in his complaint that both the accused Sarabjit Singh and Lakhbir Singh were known to him and used to come to his residence. He alleged that during their visits they stole his cheque book issued by the Sector 37-C-based
Central Bank. They then withdrew money from his account by forging his signatures on different dates. It was only later that the fraud came to light and he brought the matter to the notice of
the police. The police officials said an inquiry was initiated in this matter and a case was registered yesterday. Following the registration of a case Sarabjit Singh was taken in custody last night. However, Lakhbir Singh has already taken anticipatory bail.
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15 held for gambling
Chandigarh, October 19 Giving details sources in the Manimajra police station said Bolla Ram, Khurshid Ahmed and Naveen Kumar were arrested for allegedly gambling at Mori Gate in Manimajra. Manmohanjit, Fariyad and Rakesh Kumar were held from near the dispensary in Indira Colony. Similarly, Aftab, Laxman and Ram Singh, were arrested for indulging in gambling from near Chanti Farm. In separate raids conducted near Public Health Centre Kamaljit, Satish Kumar and Bidhi Ali were nabbed by the police while gambling and Rashid, Ashok Kumar, Kamal Kumar were arrested from a house in Mori Gate on the similar charges. As many as five separate cases have been registered in this regard at the Manimjara police station. Valuables stolen:
Booked:
MOHALI It is reportedly that both the families were not at home when the theft took place. The thieves ransacker the houses and took away only cash and jewellery.
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25 Thai units to display products at CII fair today
Chandigarh, October 19 Mr Tharadol Thongurang, Counsellor ( Commercial), Office of Commercial Affairs with Royal Thai Embassy said participation in the trade fair would help promote trade relations between Thailand and the companies in the Chandigarh region. Businessmen from this area will find Thailand’s largest manufacturer and exporters come under one roof and will get a chance to work out joint ventures and trade collaborations
with them. The FTA Agreement between India and Thailand shall multiply the bilateral trade between the two countries from the present $ 1.7 billion, he said adding that a meeting of the senior officials of both the countries was scheduled for next month. “We will be showing interest in procuring technology-driven latest agricultural products from Punjab, said Mr
Thaongurang. Besides this, we will also explore the possibility of establishing joint ventures for rubber parts for automotive sector through tie-ups with auto
component makers in the region. The products, which will be displayed will include glasswares, food kitchen module, handicrafts, jewellery, auto plastic parts, giftware, canned seafood etc He said they would be opening an office of commercial affairs at Chennai. “We are trying to increase our network by participating in big trade fairs in various states of India,’’ he said.
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HSBC hosting helping hands mela
Chandigarh, October 19 The mela was inaugurated here today by Ms Irina Brar, reigning amateur golf champion. She went around the stalls in the premises and showed interest in the displayed products. “I would later come with my mother to buy some of these products,” she told a scribe. This year, over 75 NGOs will be participating in the mela with community work profiles ranging from child welfare, tribal development, welfare of the physically and mentally challenged, rural development and arts and crafts development. While it gives NGOs and communities an opportunity to sell their
products at prime HSBC locations to the HSBC customers as well as the general public. The proceeds of the sale will go towards supporting a charitable cause in communities where the NGO has a presence, said a spokesperson for the bank. It is being held simultaneously in 39 branches across 21 cities. The NGOs, who have displayed their creations at the Chandigarh branch, are the Blind School, Inner Wheel, an NGO engaged in the uplift of mentally retarded children and Karuna Sadan, an NGO for the uplift of underprivileged women.
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Golden Autos gets award
Chandigarh, October 19 Mr Jagdish Khattar, Managing Director, Maruti Udyog Limited, presented the award to Mr Kulwinder Singh, proprietor of Golden Autos, at a conference held at New Delhi on October 17. There are 1,512 Maruti authorised service stations in India, of which only 152 are grade A.
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