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Report for probe into role of Sodhi Ram
Chandigarh, May 25 The report has also established the responsibility of Assistant Registrar (Conduct) S.K. Sharma along with the question paper printer for the “debacle”. Stating that there has been a complete lack of responsible monitoring of the task of receipt of printed question papers from the printer, the reports adds that the entire incident resting on the premise of timely dispatch but delayed receipt does not stand the critical scrutiny of logical thinking. The report says: “Since the entire job is enshrouded in a veil of strict secrecy and which is only known to the COE, it cannot be wished away that he did not know about the impending delay taking place, but for reasons best known to him he did not share this information with the Vice-Chancellor till 6.30 am on May 20, the day of the test. For this he owes a convincing explanation to the VC more so when there is no contingency alternative plan available with him which could be implemented. “In the contest of his studied and strategic wait and silence about the lingering delay in the receipt of the papers till May 20 morning, the lack of active monitoring and timely sharing of information on part of Sodhi Ram… cannot be ignored and calls for an in-depth regular inquiry and appropriate action if deemed necessary.” The inquiry report points to the fact that the truck, which was to travel around 750 km, took five days to traverse the distance. The truck started its journey on May 16 and was to reach the university on May 18 for the May 20 test. According to the truck driver, the truck met with an accident and fell into a khud, following which the engine stopped functioning causing the delay. However, the reports says: “The inordinate delay in its journey seems to have no convincing explanation and is the glaring gap in the entire chain of events.” Other than the fact that the COE had no alternative contingency arrangements to tide over such a situation, the report also discovered that the university had no written agreement with the printer regarding the printing and transportation of the papers in time, to which Sodhi Ram replied that these works are done by the word of mouth. The report adds that S.K. Sharma did not realise the gravity of the situation and merely waited for the receipt of the papers without raising the alarm till it became too late. “He relied on the verbal communication to the COE and did not place the information of vital delay ion record anywhere on any written note.” Recommending that the printer be proceeded against as per the university rules, the report adds that the extent of wasteful expenditure is an important issue worth investigation for fixing the responsibility on the printer, as it was his duty to have ensured the timely delivery of the material in the university. The 30-page report distributed to various Syndicate members for consideration during the next meeting on May 27 was submitted to the university Vice-Chancellor some days ago. The report states that the debacle has not only made the university suffer an irreparable damage to its reputation and credibility but also caused undue hardship to around 8,500 students who had come from far-off places for the test. The report suggested that having suffered on account of the compounding role of many factors — indifference, lack of seriousness and anticipatory planning on the part of these individuals — it was time to take a fresh look at the role and responsibility of various officials in the Examination Branch and evolve a code of conduct and procedure that assign duties to various persons for monitoring and if needed taking remedial or disciplinary action. The findings of the report have been seconded by university’s counsel Anupam Gupta in his legal advise on the report. However, Mr Gupta has clearly added that the report does not point towards any dishonest intention on anyone’s part. “The complete failure on part of both of them (Sodhi Ram and S.K. Sharma) to bring the matter to the notice of the Vice-Chancellor till as late as the morning of May 20 when absolutely nothing could be done to retrieve the situation is even more irresponsible, though no dishonest motive is involved.” In the absence of monitoring and standbys, it was a catastrophe waiting to happen even though it had not happened for the past so many year, concluded Mr Gupta.
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Medical bandh observed in Mohali
Mohali, May 25 The protesters raised slogans against the government and words like “Inqalab Zindabad” echoed in the Phase I market area as protesters walked towards the office of the Deputy Commissioner. Different organisations that participated in the protest moved carrying their banners. Though the rally was peaceful, a large number of police personnel were deployed at several points. A memorandum was presented to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Tejveer Singh, by representatives of the local unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The town witnessed a medical bandh for part of the day as doctors, chemists and laboratory technicians did not work in protest against the reservation. Almost all chemist shops and laboratories remained closed till noon. The protesters gathered at Phase II from where a rally was organised. The speakers gave a call to dethrone leaders who tried to divide the society on the basis of caste. The protesters stressed that “India was one and let it remain one. Do not divide it on the basis of caste”. The speakers demanded the setting up of a non-political committee to explore avenues for the upliftment of the weaker sections. They said equal opportunities should be provided to all students irrespective of caste and the government should provide scholarships to students from the weaker sections of the society so that they were able to compete with other students. Dr S.S. Bhatia, president of the local unit of the IMA, demanded that the reservation policy should be reversed and students should be judged on the basis of their intelligence level and not on the basis of caste. Mr Harish Singla, president of the Mohali Chemist Association, said every section of the society should protest against the reservation move of the government. The general category students would suffer to a great extent if the government implemented the policy, he added. Dr Sanjiv Bhatia, president of the Resident Doctors Association of Government Medical College, Chandigarh, said students from Panjab University, Punjab Engineering College, Homoeopathy College, Sector 26, and National Dental College, Derra Bassi, joined the protest. Doctors from hospitals in Chandigarh also participated. Among the organisations that participated in the protest were the local unit of the IMA, Indian Dental Association, Chemists Association, Indian Institute of Homoeopathic Physicians, state branch. Chandigarh: With the suspension of PGI's parallel OPD indefinitely by resident doctors , patients had a harrowing time, awaiting their turn in the limited OPDs, being run by consultants, that were functional today. Long waiting hours to see a doctor coupled with the non-availability of certain specialisations added to the woes of ailing patients. Junior and senior doctors said the parallel OPD had been suspended to strengthen the public outreach programme. Moreover, since the venue of the protest chosen by the doctors is away from the New OPD Block, doctors said it would not be feasible to see patients and offer prescriptions. Meanwhile, the Association of Resident Doctors, PGI, decided to organise a blood donation camp in association with the Rotary and Blood Bank Society Resource Centre (RBBSRC), Sector 37. The camp will be held tomorrow from 9 am onwards at the RBBSRC and a large number of doctors will donate blood. The doctors have also appealed to the public to come forward and donate blood. According to Dr Jaspreet Singh, President, Association of Resident Doctors, Blood donation assumes significance as there are no quotas or reservations in the blood of the humanity. “With the support of the public, we intend to make this camp a big success and collect a large number of units of blood that will help to save many lives”, he said. Meanwhile, doctors of the city and those from other cities of Punjab and Haryana got together to form a coordination committee to fight against reservation at a common platform. “We will meet everyday to decide the coming day's strategy,” Dr Kashmiri Lal of the GMCH-32 said. While PEC students continued their relay fast as did doctors and interns at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. Also letters of support continued to pour in and students of Bhojia Dental College, Nalagarh, also joined the protest. A rally by non-medicos and IT professionals has also been planned for May 27. The protesters will march from Matka Chowk to the PGI. The Association of Resident doctors has decided to give a bandh call in the city on May 30. This will include a complete bandh in city hospitals, government and private educational institutions and business establishments as well. “We want a non-violent bandh to make the government realise that people from all walks of life are up against reservation. Since we are in touch with other colleges of the region, we might extend the bandh to make it a north India bandh,” says Dr Anindya Banerjee of the association. Meanwhile, a senior resident of the Neurosurgery Department, Dr Bhanu Prakash, began an indefinite fast and is also observing silence as a mark of protest against the proposed reservation. He is into 36 hours of his protest and his friends said the decision was spontaneous and taken immediately after PEC students began their relay fast at the PGI to express their support to the protesting doctors. The corporate sector too has come forward to support the cause of the protesting doctors. Companies like Infosys, Quark and Feedback Ventures have taken up the initiative to organise a rally from Matka Chowk to the PGI on May 27. A number of other colleges and schools of the city shall join the students of PEC in the rally.
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City businessman grilled for links with Hawara
Chandigarh, May 25 Sources in the operation cell said the businessman was directed by a local court to join investigations, following which he came to the operation cell this morning. The police questioned him for about seven hours about his alleged links with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) activists. It was alleged that he had provided financial assistance to Hawara and Bheora in their run and was in touch with them. The police said they had strong evidences against Singh as he was harbouring them. His name has figured in the interrogations of Hawara and Bheora, said a police officer. The sources further added that Singh was asked to join investigations tomorrow as well. The senior police officers refused to share the details of the questioning saying that it could hamper the investigations. Later in the day, counsels of Singh along with his sympathisers gathered outside the operation cell alleging that the police was unnecessarily detaining him. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune outside the operation cell, Singh said he was interrogated for over seven hours. He alleged that the police officers were pressuring him to admit his links with the BKI and its chief Wadhawa Singh. He said, “The police officers were forcing me to admit involvement in Delhi bomb blasts and also levelled baseless allegations, including that I have waged a war against India. I am a law abiding citizen having full faith in Indian state”. When asked about his alleged links with Hawara, Singh asserted, “I met Hawara in Burail Jail and came in his contact. I used to meet him after I was released from jail as Hawara asked me to help
him in getting replace Guru Granth Sahib in the jail”. Adding to this he also denied having links with FATEH, a Sector 38-based NGO. He maintained that the police was implicating him in a false case as he had moved the High Court in connection with the alleged implication of his wife Manjot Kaur by the Punjab police in a case. “Both Chandigarh and Punjab police were caught on a wrong foot in this case and it is because of this that the local police was harassing me”, Singh alleged. It may be recalled that that a police party from
Fatehgarh Sahib had booked Manjot Kaur for allegedly carrying RDX. The police said Manjot was held from Bassi Pathana bus stand on July 27, 2005. The Punjab police had to withdraw the case against her on August 31 following large-scale protest against the highhandedness of the police.
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Light
and sound show on City Beautiful Chandigarh, May 25 The 45-minute show will be put up in the specially designed
open-air show area being created in the serene environs of Government
Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10. The Chandigarh Industrial and
Tourism Corporation (CITCO) is the co-partner with the Indian Tourism
Development Corporation (ITDC). The ITDC is developing the software
and the hardware components of the entire project and will also be the
turn-key player in the installation of the programme.
Confirming the development, Mr J.S. Bir, Managing Director of CITCO,
said the project details had been chalked out and the city should
witness its light and sound show by the Independence Day. The control
room, electricity supply connections and the towers for mounting the
projectors will be ready by June 25. Work has also commenced on
erecting a spectator’s gallery with capacity of about 300.
Mr Bir said the show would be mounted in three languages —Hindi,
Punjabi and English. The ITDC has committed that the show in Hindi
will be ready by August 15. The subsequent additions will be made
within a month. A meeting with regard to other details of the project
was attended by Ms Chandni Luthra, Senior Vice-President of the ITDC,
Ms Madhu Dubey, DGM, ITDC and Mr Bir in New Delhi, recently.
CITCO has prepared a script woven on the pattern of conservation
instead of a routine lecture on the architecture and the lifestyle in
the city. The script has concentrated on providing details about the
most significant landmarks in the city, including the Punjab and
Haryana High Court and Secretariat, Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, Rose
Garden, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Panjab University, overview
of the city architecture and several other places.
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Why has Knight Frank India opened its shop in the city?
The real estate business in the city and surrounding areas is at its peak. Thus, the Indian subsidiary of Knight Frank has decided to open its hub in the city. The hub will look after business in the city and neighbouring areas of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. What services will be provided by Knight Frank in this region? The Chandigarh hub will look at the entire gamut of operations involved in property management like project management and supervision, including doing turn key projects. We will soon expand to all agency work like purchases, sales and letting of commercial, retail, residential properties and land, advisory services, investment and facilities management. What is your penetration in the region so far? The company is already managing Ansal Plaza in Ludhiana and another property in Baddi. With our offices being set up in Chandigarh, we hope to institutionalise the highly unorganised real estate business here. — Ruchika M. Khanna
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Violating the law under the nose of authorities
Chandigarh, May 25 Though the senior police and Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities deny it, connivance on the part of some officials at least is apparent from the fact that the contractor has blatantly installed the corporation’s board displaying the parking rates of not just two-wheelers, but also cars, jeeps and even heavy vehicles, including matadors and buses. The board even mentions the name and designation of corporation officer, who can be contacted in case of overcharging or any other complaint. It is learnt that earlier the board displayed “parking for two wheelers”. But later the board was painted afresh and now it displays the parking fee for various vehicles. The board now displays parking fee as Rs 2 for a two-wheeler, Rs 5 for a car, Rs 10 for jeeps and a Tata Sumo, Rs 20 for a matador and Rs 40 for a bus. Interestingly, the matter was brought to the notice of the Chandigarh Police through the traffic helpline by a Tribune correspondent over a month back, still no action was initiated in the matter by the men-in-khaki. In the past the former Deputy Commissioner had taken up this issue with the Municipal Corporation asking it not to auction the road as a parking lot for four wheelers as it leads to traffic jams. Subsequently, the corporation had auctioned this road as a parking place for two-wheelers. However, the corporation has auctioned the road for two-wheelers but it has been used for parking cars in clear violation of the terms and conditions of the contact. “The employees of the contractor could be seen stopping the other vehicle coming down the road, like a traffic police cop, to assist the vehicle to be parked there. On the other hand the Chandigarh Traffic Police that had taken classes of Punjab Police preaching them about the traffic rules and regulations, seems to have shut their eyes to this blatant violation. On any other road in Sector 17 the cop would tow away a wrongly parked vehicle, but they are not willing to come to this road”, said Ravinder Singh Pannu, a government employee, who commutes on this road daily. When contacted in this regard, the Additional Commissioner of MC, Mr O.P. Popli, said he would look into this matter. Mr S.K. Chadda, Executive Engineer, said the parking lot had been auctioned for two wheelers only. Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Mr Dinesh Bhatt, when contacted in this regard, immediately directed the DSP Traffic, Mr Prem Singh Malik, to take stern action against the violation and book the guilty.
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Soaring high under wings of Rotary
Chandigarh, May 25 The message found a resonance yet again this afternoon, with none other than the past president, Rotary International, Mr Rajinder K. Saboo, restating and proving it for a young audience. He was speaking to 36 students from all over the northern states, who have made it to RYLA this year. Over the next four days, they will attend sessions in personality development and goal setting at St Stephen's School at Togan village, where a RYLA camp will be in progress. But before that, it was time to seek a formal word of introduction from the students who were raring to go right from the outset. The best part of the RYLA group being hosted by Rotary District 3080 this year is its ‘‘socialist’’ composition. On the one hand it has participation from public schools located as far off as Rishikesh and Solan and on the other it has a good strength of Hindi- speaking children from government schools like the one at Bapu Dham, Sector 26, Chandigarh. Such a network of students from different strata can go a long way in diluting the barriers of class. And RYLA can certainly make that happen, as was clear from this afternoon's get-together of students at Rotary Bhavan in Sector 18. With dreams in their eyes, the students gave away their best when engaged in a conversation by Mr Saboo. Unlike most speakers who squander precious time in repeating what the programme overleaf mentions in detail, Mr Saboo let the students speak, while he analysed the honesty of their remarks and offered fresh perspectives to them. ‘‘For this,’’ he said, ‘‘is our real purpose at RYLA. We want to rescue these students from regimented schedules and help them bloom under the sky of their own choice. We want to show them distant horizons and tell them of the worlds that exist beyond the expanse of human eyes. We want to teach them the art of maximizing their potential.’’ As the grand old man of Rotary, Mr Saboo made perfect sense to students, who spoke their hearts out when asked them to spell out their role models. Most of them settled for their fathers, a few for their mothers, and fewer for the President of India. But in whatever they chose, they exhibited the courage of conviction and the will to take the best from whatever situation life threw them into. In doing so, they proved their worthiness as participants of the prestigious programme like RYLA, which promises to enhance their potential in areas of individual and professional development. And that RYLA has selected good students was evident from the way they explained why they wanted to be what they wanted to be. While those from public schools found it easy to communicate in English, those from the government school at Bapu Dham fumbled for a while before they took control of the situation. In his mother tongue, one of them shouted, ‘‘I will be a pilot, and I will soar high.’’ That's what RYLA wants them to do —soar, but soar safely.
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No lie-detection test in CFSL since February
Chandigarh, May 25 A little probe reveals that the lab is not conducting any tests as it has no expert to do the job! A top CFSL official, on the condition of anonymity, said since the previous expert, Paul Ramesh, was suspended following the charges of sexual exploitation, no new appointment or replacement has taken place resulting in the complete breakdown of the lie-detection machinery. A suggestion for a new appointment in the place of Ramesh has been turned down by the Home Ministry, he said. Another CFSL official said that lie-detection machines worth lakhs are gathering dust for the want of use. He added that brain-mapping technology, imported at a whopping cost and which was to be implemented soon, has also come a cropper. The technique involves using electro-magnetic waves to map brain functioning and is quite an effective tool to detect lies. He also said there could not be any appointment till Ramesh’s case is pending and the inquiry was on. Though the CFSL was offering excuses, the heat was felt not only by the Chandigarh Police but also by other northern states which were forced to send their cases to State Forensic Laboratory, Ahmedabad, said an officer with the HAC branch of the Chandigarh Police. In fact, no new case had been sent by the UT police to the CFSL since February though the number of cases totalled six in the months of December and January. Police forces of other states too were no better, he said. The only other lie-detection lab in the northern zone was the CBI lab in New Delhi which takes only CBI cases, thus offering no respite to the police forces, he said.
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Road panel passes estimates of Rs 3.75 cr
Chandigarh, May 25 With the approval of the Chief Architect, these will be used as pedestrian parks as well as parking for cars. Estimates of Rs 3.75 crore have been passed by the committee here today. The meeting was chaired by Mr Pardeep Chhabra, Chairman of the Roads Committee, here today. The committee accorded approval to rough cost estimate (RCE) for 80mm thick paver block for children park in Sector 45 for Rs 15.99 lakh, for parks in Modern Housing Complex, Manimajra for Rs.13.63 lakh. Apart from these, a few table agendas were also approved. These included estimate for providing and fixing 80mm thick paver blocks around the park in Sector 18-C for Rs 3.26 lakh, estimate for construction of road/parking and sealing wall between the rehri market and green belt in Sector 15-C and D for Rs 1.22 lakh.
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Dharna staged against PUDA
Mohali , May 25 The protesters raised slogans against the Punjab Government and demanded that the possession of the plots should be given to them in 15 days. They said that if this was not done the allottees would be compelled to burn an effigy of the Housing Minister outside the PUDA office. They said the government was issuing licences in the name of development to private colonisers but persons who were allotted plots in Sectors 76- 80 were not being given possession, causing a lot of harassment to them. In a memorandum presented to the Chief Administrator, PUDA, Mr Sucha Singh Kalour, president of the committee, said in 2001, PUDA had issued letters of intent to 3,950 allottees in Sectors 76-80. The allottees had already deposited 25 per cent of the cost of the plots with PUDA. It has been alleged that certain law officers of PUDA were interested in prolonging the issue because of market fluctuation in real estate business. The committee requested that PUDA should be directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the law officers for failing to do the needful.
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Pesticide unit raided
Dera Bassi, May 25 Acting on a complaint, the team reached the premises of Ms Crop-Care Pesticides Limited and seized some samples of the pesticides. After weighing some samples, the team found a packet of Indo-Salphon, a pesticide, only 232 ml instead of its actual weight of 250 ml. The team also took samples of two other pesticides and sent them to laboratories for confirmation tests. Mr Gill claimed that the raids were conducted for ensuring quality and quantity of the pesticides being supplied by the companies to the farmers. Mr R.L. Dhingra, General Manager of the industrial unit, claimed that the raids were conducted to harass them unnecessary. He also claimed that some of their rivals had hatched a conspiracy to conduct the raids.
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Honesty still prevails
Chandigarh, May 25 The incident occurred around 11.30 am when Kirpal Singh found the bag outside the bank. Assuming that the bag containing the cash could have been accidentally left by a customer, he took it inside the bank and handed it over to bank’s Chief Manager Harshbir Singh. The bag was searched and it was found that the cash had been withdrawn from a particular account. The account holder was contacted and later given the bag.
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UT increases minimum wages
Chandigarh, May 25 The revised monthly salary for unskilled labour is Rs 3211.50 and new daily salary is Rs 123.20; for semi-skilled-II it is Rs 3361.50 monthly and Rs 129.20 daily; for semi-skilled-I, the revised salary is Rs 3461.50 monthly and Rs 132.80 daily; for skilled-II, it is Rs 3661.50 monthly and Rs 140.50 daily; for skilled-I, it is 3886.50 monthly and Rs 149.20 daily; and for highly skilled it is Rs 4286.50 monthly and Rs 164.60 daily. The administration has also released the details of new minimum wages for the Class III staff, workers in hotels and restaurants and other fields.
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Apni Mandi to be shifted
Chandigarh, May 25 At a meeting of the day market committee, chaired by Ms Pushpa Sharma, the members decided to check the unauthorised mandis which are reportedly being run at Sector 52 and Manimajra. It has also decided to shift the Apni Mandi from Sector 52 to Sector 37. The day market committee met at committee room, the Municipal Corporation, and secretary Mr N.N. Sharma, Executive Engineer, Roads Division-II, MCC, Mr Sohan Lal Vaid, Anu Chatrath, Ms Lalit Joshi, Ms Shyama Negi, Mr Balraj Singh, Mrs Amar Kulwant Singh, Dr K.S. Raju, Ms Harjinder Kaur and Mr Gurcharan Singh, Secretary, Apni Mandi, Punjab Mandikaran Board, attended the meeting.
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256 challaned for traffic offences
Chandigarh, May 25 Besides this, the traffic police held an eye testing camp for drivers of roadways buses in the Sector 23 Children Traffic Park (CTP). A spokesman for the traffic police said late night nakas were set up to check drunken driving at Sectors 24 and 25 separating road, Vikas Marg and Purav Marg on Wednesday night. As many as 31 motorists were booked for overspeeding, 112 for using high beam, four for drunken driving, six for without helmet and 49 were challaned for other offenses. The traffic police also impounded 29 vehicles for various traffic violations.
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Constable booked for fraud
Chandigarh, May 25 Sources in the Crime Branch of the police said constable Deva Singh had allegedly taken Rs 70,000 from Harpal Singh of Hisar on the pretext of getting him selected to Chandigarh Police as constable. Harpal Singh told the police that he had given the money last year but after taking the money Deva Singh, who was posted in the Control Room, began avoiding him. Following this, the matter was reported to senior officers, who initiated an inquiry into the matter. The CID wing of the police registered a case on Wednesday after investigating the matter.
Car stolen
Sanjiv Mishra of Sector 34 reported to the police that his Maruti car (CHK-4760) was stolen from Sector 34 parking lot on Wednesday. A case of theft has been registered.
House burgled
Bhadur Singh of Raipur Khurd village in a complaint alleged that three gold rings, a pair of gold ear rings, a mobile phone and Rs 10,000 were stolen from his house on Tuesday night.
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Chain snatchers held
Chandigarh, May 25 Sources in Sector 34 police station said the accused had been identified as Hardeep Singh and Gurjit Singh of Mohali. The police said both the accused were nabbed in sector 46 this evening when they were travelling in a car, in which they fled yesterday. The police has also impounded their car. They would be produced before a local court tomorrow.
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Purse stolen from car
Panchkula, May 25 According to the car owner, Akanksha Saxena, a sub-editor with a magazine, the thieves took away her belonging while the vehicle was parked outside her office in Sector 17. A case of theft has been registered at Sector 16 police station.
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Traders meet MC Commissioner over advt policy
Chandigarh, May 25 The members informed the Commissioner of the recent notices received in various markets where signage was not matching with business activities on the premises. The Commissioner hinted that the corporation was only the implementing agency. However, the members urged Mr Aujla to withdraw wrong notices issued by the civic body. The CBM delegation, comprising Mr J.P.S. Kalra, Mr Kamaljit Panchhi, Mr Seva Singh Rayat, Mr L.C. Arora, and Mr Hazara Singh, also discussed the use of internal space encircled by the bay shops in Sector 34. This space was not a public passage and was meant for polishing furniture before handing over to the customers.
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