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MCM students have their way, end stir
After the slap,
hug In a highly dramatic end to the strike, the teacher concerned hugged Shivani publically following which the Principal addressed the students, announcing the concessions. Students clapped and cheered through the announcements as a visibly relieved Principal laughed with them even encouraging them to raise “MCM zindabad” slogans. “Now, I want pin drop silence, not even the sound of your breath!” she joked before stating: “It does not bother me if you continue to remain outside the college gates, it is you who would suffer in studies, but you all are mine. I was going to allow the use of mobile phones for students as a Divali gift, but we have done it today. However, no one would be allowed to carry mobiles with cameras and the blue tooth facility.” Students used as
pawns: PCCTU Members of the Punjab and
Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) today stated that they had maintained “a studied silence on the development in the college despite being present there throughout but there are some shocking facts behind the episode, which will be brought to the notice of the UT Administration”. Dr Jagwant Singh, general secretary of the PCCTU, said the extremely traumatised teacher was facing false allegations and regretted that some students of the college became pawns in the hands of “forces”.
Chandigarh, August 30 The Principal, Dr Puneet Bedi, allowed the students to bring mobile phones to the college, restricting them to use these only in “mobile zones”, which have been identified. Ms Jagdish Bains, the teacher who had allegedly slapped a first-year student, Shivani, was made to hug Shivani in the presence of the protesting students, bringing the strike to an end. However, even as the striking students hailed their victory and thanked leaders of university student unions for their support, the situation within the college was far from having returned to normal. The rift among students sharpened considerably towards the end of the strike with the pro-college management group viewing it as its defeat. Led by some sports students, this group created an ugly scenes inside and outside the college through the day, abusing and getting into physical scuffles with other students. Some even reportedly threatened to get leaders involved in the strike “kidnapped” and took out their ire even on mediapersons. College teachers also woke up to their “cause” and openly protested against the students’ strike. In a press note, they said the issue had been blown out of proportion. “While the version of students has been given due coverage by the media, the teachers’ voice has been lost somewhere. For an incident where she was just enforcing a rule, she has shown enough magnanimity despite not being at fault. Members of the staff extend their full support to their college and regret that the dignity of the institution and the teaching community has been maligned by the agitating students,” the press note said. With the threat of the strike spreading to other colleges looming large, it took just an hour for the issue to be resolved this morning. Justice A.L. Bahri, vice-president of the DAV College Managing Committee, came to the college and held talks with the Principal, the teacher concerned, students leaders, including president of the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) Dalveer Singh Khangura and president of the Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) Rupinderjit Singh Mann. It was decided that the demands of the students be met and the strike called off. Shivani also issued a statement that she was satisfied and the matter had been amicably settled. A written statement was also signed by her along with the signatures of the Principal, the teacher concerned, Justice A.L. Bahri, Mr K.I.P. Singh, DSP, and others. The police had come prepared to handle any untoward incident. Led by Mr K.I.P. Singh, there were over 100 policemen on duty, including three SHOs, besides a riot-control vehicle and a quick reaction team.
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Councillor puts MC in RTI dock
Chandigarh, August 30 This is, perhaps, the first case filed by a councillor in the city accusing his own institution of “knowingly giving incorrect, incomplete and misleading information which was the subject of request”. In July 2006, Mr Sharma had sought information on 22 questions with regard to the garbage disposal unit. These pertained to the procedure of selection of Jaypee Industries for setting up this unit without floating global tenders as required by a meeting of the General House of the MC held on February 8, 2005. In reply, Mr Sharma received evasive and incomplete answers against which he has now lodged an appeal. With regard to a question pertaining to the allotment of work to Jaypee Industries, Mr Sharma got a reply from the MC saying that the allotment of work to Jaypee Industries was justified as the same had also been done in case of SPJ Bio Agro Limited and M/s Excel Industries in 1996 for setting up of a garbage processing unit on the basis of direct negotiation and “not through the advertisement process”. However, Mr Sharma has in his appeal attached an advertisement dated November 2, 1995, which proves that the reply is misleading. To another question on whether Jai Parkash Industries submitted any document of technology transfer from any functional plant or joint venture with any working plant, the reply of the MC was: “Yes, M/s Jai Parkash Associates is having a written understanding with the manufactures of machinery equipment.” This, says Mr Sharma’s appeal, is a misleading and evasive reply that does not talk about the function of the plant. On the question pertaining to the clearance of an MC official’s tour to Germany to study garbage disposal units there, a report tabled in the House in June this year had stated that the tour had been cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs as per letter No. 358/EW/PUL/2006 dated March 10, 2006. However, a copy of the letter provided under the RTI Act referred above shows it was issued by the Ministry of External Affairs with a rider that the clearance was subject to approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This, Mr Sharma says, was misleading. He has sought action against the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under Section 20 (2) of the RTI Act, 2005. If upheld, this could lead to strict disciplinary action under service rules.
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Commercial use of residential property rampant
Chandigarh, August 30 Drive down to some of the small towns and villages in the Chandigarh’s vicinity, including Mohali, Kharar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Nayagaon, Zirakpur and even Panchkula. You will find residences housing not just beauty salons and gymnasiums, but also small-scale industrial units manufacturing gates and wrought-iron furniture. Though the building bylaws clearly state that residential premises cannot be used for anything else than residential purposes without seeking prior permission from the authorities concerned, the violation of rules in most parts is blatant. In Chandigarh, the Administration has allowed nursing homes to operate from residential buildings by relaxing the norms. Besides, doctors, architects, chartered accountants and lawyers have also been permitted to use a portion of their residential premises for professional activity. Norms have been relaxed to allow PCOs and STD booths to function from these areas. But a visit to different parts of the city, including Sectors 25 and 45, is enough to reveal that even provision, general merchandise and stationary stores are functioning from houses and adjoining garages. In almost all sectors, including Sectors 15, 16, 18, and 21, so many houses located in lanes opposite the market have been converted into business establishments. In Sector 15 alone, you have a boutique, a cyber café, a mobile repair shop and a coaching centre running from residences. The matter again is being looked into by the Bench headed by Mr Justice Vinay Mittal. In some other parts of the city including Sectors 18 and 21, second-hand car dealers have virtually converted houses into motor garages. On Saturdays — a day prior to the holding of a car bazaar in Sector 7 — they wash and service the vehicles using solvents. Although the activity results in excessive usage and wastage of water, they do not pay commercial charges. Though notices have been sent to so many alleged violators by the authorities for carrying out business in violation of the rules, nothing else has so far been done in most cases. The situation is hardly different in Kharar and Fatehgarh Sahib although the “shopkeepers” describe their business as legal one due to payment of “taxes”. It is worse in areas around Defence Colony in the vicinity of Baltana, Zirakpur. In Mohali, such activity can be witnessed in Phases VII, IX and other areas. Enter Panchkula from Housing Board Chowk side and you find house after house converted into a shop offering everything right from sand to gravel after pulling down the walls. “Commercial activities in residential areas not only clog the roads and parking spaces, but result in high consumption of water and electricity at domestic rates,” says bank employee Shivani Wadhwa of Sector 45. “Yet no one is doing anything about it.” Dissatisfied with the action so far taken by the authorities concerned against in the menace in Haryana, the high court has already constituted a two-member committee to monitor the progress. The committee comprises Haryana’s Advocate-General Hawa Singh Hooda and senior advocate Balram Gupta. Issuing the directions, the Bench has also directed the committee to regularly place before the court the action-taken report. Taking up a petition against the commercial activities in residential areas in Faridabad, the Bench observed mere initiation of proceedings against the defaulters was not sufficient to stop the misuse of premises and the consequential nuisance caused to the residents.
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Hooda promises more funds for P’kula development
Panchkula, August 30 The Chief Minister was speaking at a felicitation function organised by the Residents Welfare Association of Sector 4, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula, shortly after the inauguration of a direct link between Chandigarh and Panchkula, the second road connecting the two cities, along with the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT Gen (Retd) S.F. Rodrigues, near Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park, here today. While thanking General Rodrigues for inaugurating the additional link between Chandigarh and Panchkula, the Chief Minister said that there were many roads connecting Chandigarh with Mohali but there was a dire need to have more connecting roads between the cities of Chandigarh and Panchkula. The enhanced connectivity would facilitate development of both cities. Mr Hooda stated that the government intended to develop the Panchkula as a “show piece of Haryana”, maintaining that adequate funds would be made available for its overall development. He appreciated the interest being taken by Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Chander Mohan, who was also present on the occasion, in the overall development of Panchkula. While referring to the demand made by the president of the Residents Welfare Association, Mr Deepak Dhiman, for setting up of a Civil Defence Officers Institute for the benefit of retired officers in the sector, Mr Hooda said that a piece of land was available in Sector 2 for the same. He said that the other demands of the Residents’ Welfare Association of the sector would be considered. The Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Chander Mohan, urged the Punjab Governor that buses of Haryana Roadways should be permitted to ply upto the Panjab University Campus and PGIMER for the benefit of the residents. He stated that the students of Panchkula should be given the facility of bus passes for buses of Chandigarh Transport Undertaking on the pattern of students of Chandigarh. General Rodrigues emphasised the need for an enhanced collective and focused endeavour, for the faster development of Chandigarh Capital Region, through an active public-private partnership approach. He called for constituting a core group of officers of the Chandigarh Administration and the Haryana Government, for sorting out the various common issues linked to the development of the area. He said that this road-link would not only decongest the main Madhya Marg-Panchkula route but would also give a shortcut for the residents of the satellite town. One more route from NH-21 (opposite village Hallomajra) to Industrial Area, Sector 16, Panchkula was also in the pipeline. He said that in view of the impending Child Labour Act, the Chandigarh Administration has planned to set up a home for 1000 children to train them in various vocations and to enable them to earn their livelihood with respect and dignity. He said that an elaborate programme of rehabilitation of slum dwellers in 18000 tenements, to be given on rental basis, was being processed. Reacting to the demand of setting up a tourist center near regulator end of Sukhna Lake by the Panchkula residents, General Rodrigues said that Chandigarh Administration had plans to set up a bird park in the area. He said that a film city was also being created, near Sarangpur to provide an opportunity to the talented persons of the region. Mementos were presented to the Chief Minister, the Governor and the Deputy Chief Minister by the Residents’ Welfare Association. Earlier the Governor, Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister planted saplings at the point where the additional link connected Chandigarh with Panchkula.
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Shatabdi: good train, bad food
Chandigarh, August 30 Dissatisfied passengers have now started skipping their meals on the train. A member of the catering staff on the train confirmed that nowadays many passengers avoided eating food and snacks served on the train. “While many would outrightly refuse being served, many leave it after nibbling on it,” he said. A regular traveller on the Kalka-New Delhi evening Shatabdi said he never ate anything served on the train. “I travel every week due to work. The food quality has only deteriorated. Most of the time, the juice or the water served on the train is not cold and the food quality is also below average. I have stopped eating on the train,” stated Gunnam Bains, a resident of Dera Bassi. A large number of passengers also do the same. “I travel by the Shatabdi as it is the best mode of transportation from here to Delhi, it is convenient and that’s about it. The food was an added attraction, but it is not so now,” states Meena Singh. If the authorities cannot improve the quality of food, they should discontinue serving it on the train, passengers say. “I have been travelling in the Shatabdi for the past three years. Earlier, the food used to be good, but now the quality has deteriorated,” states Shikha Sharma, a resident of Sector 42 who studies in New Delhi. Interestingly, the passengers are now given a proforma at the end of the meal, which requires them to rate the service, quality of food, etc. The proforma is given to a few passengers only. The staff on the train claim it collects and hands over the same to the caterer. However, passengers feel it is nothing but a mere formality. “I have filled the proforma twice giving the food a “very bad” rating. I, however, see no change in the food quality,” laments Gurdeep Singh. A proposal to revamp the menu was on the cards and according to a senior official a meeting regarding the same has already been held. However, no final decision has been taken in this regard. The new menu is supposed to include “paranthas” and curd for breakfast apart from elaborate continental and Chinese dishes for dinner.
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UT notification on red light
Chandigarh, August 30 Those listed for official use of red light on their vehicle tops by the Home Department include the Adviser to the UT Administrator, the administrative secretaries in the supertime scale or above, the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police, District and Sessions Judge, vice chairman and members of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Deputy Commissioner, Mayor and state guests, in their own position. It is an accepted fact that red light is often treated as a status symbol and can be seen on vehicles of certain junior officials as well. A senior official said: “We will also keep a tab on the official vehicles from the neighbouring sates of Punjab and Haryana as well. Red light on unqualified vehicles will invite strict action”. The notification, however, said that “notifications and instructions issued from time to time by the states of Punjab and Haryana specifying the vehicles carrying dignitaries or officers to show a red\blue light on the front of the vehicles shall be applicable in the UT in view of the fact that it is also the capital of both the states”. It has also been pointed out that “in case the vehicles fitted with red\blue light on the top front is not carrying the dignitaries or officers, then such red\blue light shall be covered. It needs to be covered with a black cover”. The senior officer said “the UT needs to work out clearly on the lights to be allowed for officials and dignataries from the adjoining states because it has been seen that cars bearing Punjab and Haryana registration numbers are often carrying certain officers who do not qualify under the UT Rules. The matter needs to be discussed with the concerned states”. The administration has also specified the officials who will be eligible to sport blue lights on their vehicles. These include the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Magistrates, executive magistrates, police officers not below the rank of an SHO, secretary of the State Transport Authority, director of Transport, officers of the Excise and Taxation Department, vehicles of the police on duty as escort with dignitaries entitled to red light and the Director of Hospitality.
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Poll registration: Ex-servicemen allege irregularities
Chandigarh, August 30 A representation sent to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr N. Gopalaswamy, this week, the All-India Veterans Core Group has pointed that despite a Supreme Court Ruling in 1971, house-to-house enumeration has never been carried out at military stations. This, the Group claimed, amounted to contempt of court. Under provisions of law, armed forces personnel have a constitutional right to vote at their place of posting. Other measures like postal ballots and proxy voting are options which are individual prerogatives. The representation has pointed out that even 30 years after the court ruling, no military authority has been nominated to register soldiers and their family members at their place of posting. Nor have the chief electoral officers in states taken any action on their part. It has emerged that the chief electoral officers may not accept Form 6, which is required to be submitted for registration as voters, in bulk even though postal ballots and proxy voting forms are being accepted in bulk, the representation further stated. This, the ex-servicemen claimed, is discriminatory as no conditions are laid down in the electoral law not to accept Form 6 in bulk. The representation states that it is the professional responsibility of the Joint Secretary (E) in the Defence Ministry to disseminate information on electoral matters. This post functions directly under the Election Commission and not the Defence Ministry.
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Road safety awards: police to involve citizens
Chandigarh, August 30 Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, the SSP (Traffic), Mr Dinesh Bhatt, said, “The campaign, started earlier this week, has been well received by the city residents. We will hold such campaigns for a week every month and reward the good drivers on the spot. The police will take the help of prominent citizens, media personalities and traffic police marshals. Besides good road sense, the good drivers will also be expected to have their documents in order”. Elaborating the criteria for selection, A Traffic Police Inspector, Mr Ram Gopal, said the traffic police cops would stop motorists after observing behaviour on the road regarding their abiding by the traffic rules and regulations. After that the driver’s documents like registration certificate of the vehicle, a valid driving license and insurance policy of the vehicle would be checked. More over the condition of the vehicle with regards to its head lights, alteration and other specification would also be checked. He further said the police would also confirm that the motorists should not have been challaned in the past for traffic violations or his name figured if the lists of habitual offenders. And if everything was found in order the motorist would be rewarded. When asked about the pollution certificate and the third party insurance policy, he further clarified that now-a-days we were not checking pollution certificates. Moreover for new vehicles the pollution certificates were not required for a year. About the third-party insurance Inspector Gopal stated that it made no difference to them, whether some one was having a comprehensive insurance policy or the third party insurance policy. The sources said from now on the police would also make efforts to encourage more women drivers by rewarding them for good road behaviour. They added that the number of women motorists was quite high in the city and they would be involved in the campaign. Sources in the traffic police said 69 road users had been rewarded for safe driving in August. Among these only three were women, one in the category of car drivers and two among two-wheelers. Those selected for award during August 2006 were selected by traffic policemen on their own based on observations on the road. The policemen admitted that they had rewarded people on the spot; this however, was not a foolproof method as people tended to be careful around the traffic policemen. Adding to this, they send that to make the system more effective the traffic police should not advertise when they would hold this campaign lest the motorists tried to behave sensibly only for that specific period. If such flaws were removed from the campaigns it would really be helpful in making the city road safer. The following were rewarded for safe driving by the UT IGP on Monday. Mrs Amarjit Nigger (car), Ms Hema Rawat (scooter), Naresh Kumar (auto-rickshaw), Manohar Lal (bus), Ajay Dhima, Bubli and Pintoo (cycle), Badri Ram Verma, Tulsi Ram, and Subash Chander (rickshaw-puller).
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Hooda visits Sandeep, gives Rs 2 lakh
Chandigarh, August 30 Mr Hooda assured him full assistance to the international hockey player, who had sustained a bullet injury while travelling in the Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express last Tuesday. The Chief Minister also handed over a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to his mother, Mrs Daljit Kaur. He said that Sandeep was missed at his native place (Shahbad Markanda) where Mr Hooda had gone for the birth anniversary celebrations of the Indian Hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand yesterday. Mr Hooda also talked to the doctors attending Sandeep. He also met other family members of Sandeep Singh. Mrs Daljit Kaur was all praise for Mr Hooda for his generous attitude in providing financial help. She also thanked the Punjab Government, the Chandigarh Administration and the PGIMER administration for their cooperation being extended to her son. Dr M.S. Dhillon, a consultant of Indian Hockey Team, who was attending to Sandeep Singh, said that his injury was healing speedily and an X-ray on his spinal would be conducted next week. The doctor said that Sandeep needs at least two weeks’ more rest for recovery. Mr KPS Gill, President of All-India Hockey Federation, and Mr Jyoti Kumaran, General Secretary, had also telephoned to enquire about the health of Sandeep Singh. Taking strict precautionary measures against infection, the hospital staff has been advised the family members not to allow visitors to Sandeep’s room. Even family members have been asked not frequent to his bed but keep a close watch from a distance.
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Jean Rodrigues gives cheques to tailoring trainees
Chandigarh, August 30 Earlier in the day, Mrs Rodrigues inaugurated an Awareness camp organised by the Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with the Scheduled Castes, Backward Class and Minorities Financial and Development Corporation, Child and Women Development Corporation and Integrated Child Development Services at Government High School, Kajheri.
— TNS
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Ahlawat tipped as SP (Traffic)
Chandigarh, August 30 The name of Mr Ahlawat (1992 batch) has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for approval. In case approved, he will come in place of Mr Amitabh Dhillon, who was repatriated to his parent cadre Haryana in March this year. Mr Dinesh Bhat is currently holding the charge of the office. Sources said the panel of names under consideration for the post of SP (Traffic) included Ms Charu Bali (1995 batch) and Mr Jagdish Chandra (1999 batch).
— TNS
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Chandigarh, August 30 Mr Tejbir Singh and nine others were given siropas in the presence of thousands of devotees, who had gathered at Talwandi Sabo on the historic occasion of 300 years of compilation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. — TNS
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MC official caught taking bribe
Chandigarh, August 30 Senior assistant Suraj Bhan, posted in the House Tax Branch of the M C sub-office in Mani Majra, was nabbed by the sleuths while he was allegedly taking bribe from the complainant, Ms Paramjit Kaur Dhillon of Mani Majra. In her complaint, Ms Dhillon has alleged that the accused had been harassing her for the past over one year regarding the transfer of two houses. He had demanded Rs 5,000 for the work. Fed up with his attitude, she lodged a complaint with the UT Vigilance Department today and the vigilance sleuths laid a trap later in the day. Sources said they sent the complainant to the accused and she handed over Rs 1,000 to the accused saying the rest of the amount would be paid after her work was done. As soon as the accused allegedly accepted the money, the sleuths swooped down upon him and recovered the marked currency from his possession. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against him. A senior official in the department said the department had recently launched a helpline. It had been getting good response as a large number of complaints had started pouring in from various sections, he added.
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Charges framed against D.S. Bhullar
Chandigarh, August 30 The charges were framed after the police filed a fresh challan was submitted under Sections 302, 307, 427, 216 and 120 B of the IPC and 3/4 of the Explosive Act against Devinder Singh Bhullar, Manjeet Singh, Man Mohan, Navneet and Gurjant Singh. Gurjant Singh and Navneet have died. The court has already dropped charges under TADA against Bhullar.
Officer asked to appear in CBI court
In a case of corruption against a former Punjab Home Secretary, Mr Bikramjeet Singh, the CBI Special Judge, Mr Jagdeep Jain, today directed the Investigation Officer (IO) to scrutinise the witnesses which were required to be examined before the court. The IO has been asked to be present on September 11. Today the names of five witnesses, Sant Ram, Sr Asst in UT Estate Office, Rajinder, another Sr Asst in UT Estate Office, Kapil Dev, Manager of Lovely Tent House, Sector 27, Vipan Bhandari, Reservation Supervisor, NR and Lt Col RS Mangat, Executive Secretary, Golf Club were scrutinised.
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