Rajpura, October 16
Two youths were crushed to death by a speeding private bus at Basantpura village near here on the Amritsar-Ambala Highway tonight.

According to sources, the bus which was on its way from Ludhiana to Ambala was trying to overtake a tractor trailer when the driver apparently lost control over the vehicle. The bus subsequently hit the two men. One of them was identified as Lakhwinder Singh, alias Lakha, of Sonti village, near here. The other youth who was yet to be identified as his body was mutilated beyond recognition.

According to the eyewitnesses, the bus was chased by a bystander, however, the driver and the conductor of the bus managed to flee the spot after abandoning the vehicle. The police was investigating the matter and no case had been registered in this connection till the filing of the report.

1 dead as Jeep turns turtle
Tribune News Service

Ropar, October 16
One person was killed and another seriously injured when their Jeep turned turtle and fell into the field along Bela-Ropar road.

The driver Dinesh (25) died on the spot.

Sewak Singh was seriously injured. He was initially admitted in the Civil Hospital, Ropar, and later referred to the PGI.

An enthralling cultural night
Tribune News Service

Ropar, October 16
In the tradition of Sufiana Kalaam Manpreet Akhtar and noted ghazal singer Shamim Iqbal enthralled the audience at Canal Rest House late last night here.

“Tujhe yaad na meri aayi” by Manpreet Akhtar and ghazals by Iqbal held the audience spellbound for over three hours here in the cultural night organised jointly by the Ropar Press club and Lions club.

Cabinet Minister Jagmohan Kang was the chief guest while others present on the occasion included MLA Ranmesh Dutt Sharma, SSP Kapil Dev and other distinguished personalities of the district.

high court
Notice issued on liquor company’s plea
Our High Court  Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 16
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice A.K. Goel and Mr Justice Rajesh Bindal today issued notice to the Punjab Government and others for November 17 on a petition filed by M/S Rajasthan Liquors Private Limited, Dera Bassi.

The petitioner has sought directions to the Excise Department to release the sanction issued to it for sub-leasing of the licence of a part of his bottling plant in favour of Seagram India.

On an application made by the petitioner, the state government had given its approval subject to the condition that the petitioner would be responsible for any negligence by the sub-lessee. An affidavit to this effect was also taken from the petitioner. However, despite the approval granted by the department, the same was not conveyed to the petitioner, the petition filed through advocate Mohan Jain states.

It has also been claimed by the petitioner that a formal letter granting the permission to lease-out a part of plant had been prepared and signed by Mr J.S. Bassi, Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner (X) on August 3, 2006, and the same had also been entered in the department register. But, it was later kept in abeyance, thereby showing the mala fide intent for extraneous consideration on the part of the Excise Department, the petition claims.

The petitioner has also claimed that by issuing the letter, the state would earn revenue of Rs 5 crore. "Withholding of the letter of approval by the officers of Excise Department is totally arbitrary, mala fide, illegal and against the Punjab Excise Act and the rules," Mr Jain told the Bench today.

Turban issue

The High Court on Monday expressed anguish over the failure of the Union Government to file a reply on the issue of restrictions on wearing of turban by Sikh students in French schools.

During resumed hearing of a PIL filed by the Singh Legal Foundation seeking directions to the respondents, including the Union Government, to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens in India as also abroad, the Bench of Acting Chief Justice S.S. Nijjar and Mr Justice S.S. Saron took the counsel for the Union of India to task for seeking more time to place on record the entire facts about the matter.

However, it gave six weeks to the government by way of one last opportunity to file written statement as well as written arguments before December 5, 2006, when the case would be taken up for further consideration.

In its PIL, the Foundation has stated that there have been many instances of Sikh citizens of India being persecuted and harassed in France for wearing turban, which is part of their religious ethos. It has also alleged that the Union Government has not done anything worthwhile to resolve the issue.

On a previous hearing, the Union Government had placed on record a single-page document, without any accompanying information about the same. The document said after the Government of India took up the issue of allowing Sikh students to wear turbans to schools, the French Government informed it that, while there was no limitation on Sikhs to practice their faith, the law was equally applicable to students of all communities and religions.

The document also said that since September 2004, when the new session started in schools, three Sikh students have been expelled while five have been barred from attending school. The appeal preferred by the parents of the students against the expulsion was disallowed by French courts.

Adjourned

The High Court on Monday adjourned to November 6 the petition filed by Mr Hardip Singh and others of Ludhiana seeking directions to restrain the Punjab Government from going ahead with the recruitment of ETT teachers.

The petitioners have claimed that the same was being done by following the classification of the Scheduled Castes into two separate categories as per the May 5, 1975, notification which provided for 50 per cent reservation in jobs for the Scheduled Castes to two categories of SCs, namely Mazhabi Sikhs and Balmikis.

FIR ordered against Punjab IAS officer 
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 16
A local district court has ordered registration of an FIR against senior Punjab bureaucrat, Mr Rabinder Nath Gupta, for trespassing private property and criminal intimidation in a case filed by Mr Karam Chand.

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr A.D. Gaur, directed the police to register a case under Section 323, 427, 448, 452 and 506 of IPC following a criminal case filed by Mr Karam Chand who had alleged that Mr Gupta had threatened to grab his piece of land in Moginand village of Ramgarh, adjoining Mr Gupta’s land. He stated that digging of the earth had commenced amidst deployment of the police.

The other case filed by Mr Karam Chand in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ms Anshu Shukla, could not be taken up today since the judge was on leave. The local court, had on October 14, appointed a local Commissioner, Mr Yogesh Mohan Sharma, to visit the place of dispute between senior Punjab bureaucrat, Mr Rabinder Nath Gupta, and his neighbour, Mr Karam Chand, who alleged that the bureaucrat was trying to usurp his land. Mr Sharma was directed to give his report today.

In his petition, Karam Chand alleged that Gupta had been threatening to use his influence to encroach upon a piece of land owned by him in the Ramgarh area. He maintained that despite several complaints to the Deputy Commissioner, no action had been initiated against Gupta.

In his petition, Karam Chand stated that his mother and two brothers were joint owners of a piece of land in Naggal Moginand where Gupta had constructed a house on the adjoining piece of land. He alleged that the bureaucrat wanted to grab his piece of land and had even threatened to go ahead with the construction activity for which he had engaged some labourers also.

The petition added that Gupta deployed policemen at the spot to prevent any interruption of the digging process by Karam Chand or his family members.

Chandigarh, October 16
In the run-up to the Assembly elections in Punjab, the government is expectedly in a “please-all mode” as far as postings and transfers are concerned. Hundreds of requests for transfers and minor “adjustments” are pouring in. All such requests are naturally loaded with recommendations from VIPs or from persons who matter in the corridors of power.

In what may be the last chance to please thousands of persons read voters — working as doctors, teachers, revenue officials and engineers in the Irrigation Department, the government is considering requests for transfers and carrying these out. Logical reasoning applied for stalling the transfer of one section of the employees has been turned on its head and fitted in to suit another section. Sources said politicians hold the opinion that doctors, engineers, teachers and revenue officials, who interact with the public, have an impact on public opinion.

Apart from this, last week more 100 Punjab Civil Service officers, who are working at the cutting edge of governance, were shifted. A minor shake-up in the police is also expected. Two weeks ago nearly 600 doctors were transferred. Now, under pressure from the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association, a review of these transfers is being carried out. Sources in the government said certain parameters had been laid down as eligibility criteria. However, a large number of these doctors may manage to retain their existing positions. The logic given by the protesting doctors was that the transfers were carried out in the middle of the academic year and could hamper the studies of their children.

However, nearby 150 teachers working in government schools were transferred in mid-session, adversely affecting the studies of students. Orders were issued overnight last weekend and these 150-odd persons were virtually hand-picked out a list of nearby 950 teachers who were seeking a mid-term transfer. This, despite the fact that no vacancies will arise in schools even on retirement as the retiring teachers are now re-employed till the end of the session. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed a Bill allowing the re-employment of retiring teachers.

The sources said a section in the Education Department opines that general transfers should be allowed if such selective transfers are to be carried out. Officials say it is the “strength” of the recommendation which matters. Ministers want to please everyone, admitted a top official.

About 10 days ago the Irrigation wing went into overdrive and shifted more than 100 engineers ranging from Chief Engineers to Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers.

The Revenue Department transferred Tehsildars by the dozen and more are in line.

Not just transfers. Officialdom is also closely monitoring the funds allocated to area MLAs under the Punjab Nirman Scheme which are to be spent before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force. A regular update is carried out and the Chief Minister’s office kept informed. Any laxity and the MLAs concerned is asked to speed up development.