Phagwara, September 29
Punjab police has a tough job in hand. As per the instructions by DGP N.P.S Aulakh to state SSPs, there will be a competition amongst the police stations on the lines of efficiency, public handling, facilities etc. In whole there are 25 points, which have been laid down as parameters to make police more people friendly.

Confirming this Kapurthala SSP Rakesh Aggarwal talking with The Tribune said 25-point parameters have been circulated to every police station of the district and all SHOs have been told to perform on these lines.

Each point carries 4 marks and the police stations would be awarded excellent, good, fair and poor grades as per marks obtained out of 100. The performance of each station would be assessed after a month.

Police stations have to perform on location (signage in the vicinity, telephone numbers at vital places all over the area; waiting room with fans, chairs, magazines and TV; provision of filtered drinking water and clean toilets for public with signage; staff dedicated to receive public, guide them, fix appointment, answer telephone calls with call back facility.

Some other parameters are how complaints lodged by public are dealt with (complaint record is kept, complaint number is given without being asked, complainant is heard by a responsible officer; cleanliness of the police station and surrounding areas, flower pots, public parking; cleanliness of bathrooms, soap, towel, exhaust fan; canteen facility for staff and public.

This 25-point charter also include maintenance of the building and the furniture; work condition of police station staff (office space, furniture, equipment, stationery, messing, bedding, vehicle; use of computers for police station working (crime diaries, internet); room for victims or witness to identify accused without being seen (specially women victims); information available to the public on patterns of crimes in the area served by the police station; how to make a complaint against police staff for misconduct.

Other parameters are cleanliness of lock ups (toilets, fans, food); whether PS is following DK Basu guidelines during arrest; efforts made for crime prevention; efforts made to arrest Proclaimed Offenders; recovery of NDPS and forfeiture of property cases in comparison to last year; recovery under gambling/excise/arms act; recovery under theft, burglary, snatching.

The police stations will also be tested whether public is given DDR copy of missing articles report without affidavit and without difficulty; whether FIR is registered freely and fairly; efforts made to disposed off vehicles lying unclaimed and public satisfaction about the working of the police station. 

Phagwara, September 29
Owing to the shortage of judges in various high courts number of pending cases is piling up.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma, stated this while talking to mediapersons after an award ceremony organised by the Bar Association here this afternoon.

Seven senior lawyers from Kapurthala who have been practicing for more than fifty years were also honoured at the function.

Justice Sharma while admitting to a shortage of judges, said only 33 judges against 53 posts were currently working in the Punjab and Haryana High court.

Replying to a question on introducing mobile courts in both Punjab and Haryana, he said a mobile court was already functioning in the slum area of Mewat while a second mobile court would soon begin functioning in Talwara from October 2.

He said more mobile courts could be set up going by the experiment of the two courts.

When asked about the construction of new judicial complexes, Justice Sharma said the project was being funded by both the union and state governments.

He said the new judicial complexes had been completed in Haryana while seven new judicial complexes were under construction in Punjab.

“All districts would be provided with new judicial complexes in phases,” said Justice Sharma further.

Justice Sharma said the computerisation ofjudicial courts was the need of the hour to accelerate the working of the courts and the process would be completed in the coming years.

Seven senior lawyers who were honoured at the function, included Shiv Chopra, Harbans Singh Dosanjh, R.S. Sandhu, SL Puri, Dev Krishan and Pt Daljeet Parsad (Kapurthala). Prominent educationist D.R. Vij, District and Sessions Judge, S.P. Bangar, DC J.M. Balamurugan, SSP Rakesh Aggarwal, SDM Amarjit Paul, DSP H.P.S. Khakh, Lalit Chopra advocate also addressed the function.

Earlier, addressing the award ceremony, Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, Justice Vinod Kumar, called on the lawyers to deliver better judgements after good advocating a case.

He advised young lawyers to follow the path of seniors and get tips from them for comfortable but constructive advocating.

He said able lawyers were becoming a necessity for all trades.

He said lawyers were also getting recognition at the international level. 

Batala, September 29
The police arrested five members of a family here today for harassing a married woman for bringing insufficient dowry during marriage.

In a complaint lodged by Kavita Kapahi, the complainant alleged that her in-laws have been torturing her since marriage for bringing less dowry. Giving details, SSP R.N.Dhoke said the complainant had alleged that her husband Rakesh Kumar Kapahi, a resident of Chandigarh, started harassing her soon after the marriage.

He asked her to bring more dowry and the matter was a common reason for the conflicts between them.

According to the complaint, for the last few days Rakesh Kumar was residing at Batala with his wife Kavita Kapahi as he had no source of income in Chandigarh. Kavita also alleged that her husband use to abuse her physically.

However, in counter allegations filed by Rakesh Kumar Kapahi, he alleged Kavita’s brothers of physical assault.

Denying the dowry allegations he said he had already transferred his property in the name of his wife.Meanwhile, a case has been registered and the investigations were still on.

Hoshiarpur, September 29
The Garhshankar police, last evening, has booked a class-IV employee of veterinary hospital, Jassowal, Jarnail Singh for molesting a woman of Kukran village.

According to the police, Jarnail Singh allegedly posed himself as a doctor of the said veterinary hospital, and offered to help Harpreet Kaur, wife of Manjit Singh of Kukran, for purchasing a buffalo. Jarnail Singh allegedly contacted Harpreet on her mobile phone and asked her to come with him for purchasing a buffalo. Harpreet refused saying that she was going to a doctor at Saila.

When Harpreet came out from clinic, Jarnail, who was already present there, offered a lift. On their way, Jarnail took Harpreet to an abandoned place and allegedly molested her. When she resisted and made a hue and cry, some passers-by came for help. On seeing them, Jarnail sped away.

Later, Jarnail telephonically threatened her with dire consequences if she reported the matter to anyone.

Jalandhar, September 29
The District Bar Association (DBA) flayed the state government for arresting a former additional advocate general Harpreet Sandhu.

In an executive committee meeting of DBA under its chief, Narinder Singh, the association asked legal fraternity to oppose high handed and vindictive action of the state government.

The press note issued by DBA secretary stated that a lawyer advised his clients as per his professional duties and had no role in his client’s dealings. Therefore, the advice given in a professional capacity cannot call for the advocate’s arrest in any manner.

Jalandhar, September 29
Wreath laying, exchange of baton and other farewell functions were organised at the Vajra Corps to mark the taking over ceremony by new GOC Lieut-Gen S.S. Kumar from Lieut-Gen Noble Thamburaj, who was to leave as GOC-in-C of Southern Command here today. The new GOC will join the office on Monday.

Lieut-Gen S.S. Kumar is an alumnus of Military School, Bangalore, National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned on June 13, 1971 into The Brigade of the Guards. He was also the ADC to the President of India from December 1976 to March 1979.

The new GOC has commanded a Guards battalion in counter insurgency area, mountain brigade and was inspector general in Assam Rifles (IGAR) in Nagaland. While commanding a battalion in Jammu and Kashmir, he was awarded the Sena Medal. During his tenure as IGAR, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal for his service.

Meanwhile, Preeti Kumar, wife of the new GOC, also took over the charge as the president of Vajra Wives Welfare Association.