NEIGHBOURHOOD

3 killed as cab rams into tree
Our Correspondent

Ambala, January 4
Three persons travelling in a maxi cab were killed near Naraingarh on Kala Amb road, 30 km from here today.

It is learnt that the incident occurred when the driver of the maxi cab lost control of the vehicle and it rammed into a tree. The deceased include two passengers and the driver of the vehicle.

A few months back, too, a maxi cab had overturned on this road and 10 persons had lost their lives.

The passengers complain that most of the maxi cab drivers overload their vehicles and violate traffic rules while driving.

The police had launched a drive against the violators a few months back but still violations continue.

Ambala, January 4
The Ambala unit of the All India Taxi Permit Union threatened that if the Punjab government did not withdraw its decision to hike the commercial vehicle permit tax of commercial vehicles there, the taxi owners and drivers of Ambala will not allow the vehicles of Punjab to cross either from Chandigarh-Ambala highway or Rajpura-Ambala national highway.

Around 300 taxi owners and drivers took out a protest procession in Ambala city today and submitted a memorandum to the Ambala deputy commissioner. They said in the memorandum that most of the taxies of Ambala had been operating in various parts of Punjab and the hike of road tax would affect their business.

President of the union Santosh Chadda said the Punjab government had hiked the permit tax of taxies from Rs 3,000 to Rs 2 lakh. He requested the Haryana Chief Minister to persuade the matter with the Punjab government.

Fatehgarh Sahib, January 4
The district consumer dispute redressal forum has directed Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to pay a compensation of Rs 20,000 to Beant Singh for its failure to re-start his mobile connection which had become non-operational due to some problem in the SIM card.

In a case filed before the court on August 9, Beant Singh, a resident of Kotla Jattan, had stated that he was using a BSNL mobile connection number 9463053808 which had become non-operational as the SIM card had stopped working.

He said on May 11, 2007, he approached the sub-divisional officer of the BSNL, who asked him to deposit Rs 120 so that a new SIM card could be issued to him. He said though he had deposited the requisite money and was issued a SIM card, the BSNL did not start his connection.

He said despite repeated attempts and several visits to the BSNL office, his number was not re-connected by the service provider. He finally decided to file a case before the district consumer dispute redressal forum which, after going through the facts of the case, directed BSNL to pay a compensation of Rs 20,000 to him for the harassment that he had to suffer due to the negligence on the part of the BSNL. Besides, the forum also asked BNSL to Rs 500 to Beant Singh towards the expenses he incurred on filing the case. Beant Singh had filed the case against the general manager, sub-divisional officer and treasurer of BSNL, in which he had claimed a compensation of Rs 50,000.

Patiala, January 4
Rashtriya Vigyan and Prodyogiki Sanchar Parishad (RVPSP), department of science and technology, Government of India, organised a programme named ‘Understanding of Planet Earth’ at Government In-service Training Centre, State College of Education, here today.

The programme was attended by 450 teachers and students of Government Multipurpose School (boys), Jogipur, and Bahadurgarh, which was sponsored by Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh.

Chief guest Gurmeet Singh, SDM, Patiala, made the people aware of the dangerous anthropogenic activities, which were leading to destruction of the earth. He said in India, a large number of activities were being planned under the project and in Patiala district, Government In-service Training Centre took the responsibility of this programme.

Chandigarh, January 4
Albeit the Premier Hockey League has entered the semifinal stage, it’s an end of the innings for some of the foreign players participating in the competition. Players like Rehan Butt, Don Prinse, Salman Akbar and Moon Kweeom, who not only played well but also became the hot favourite of hockey lovers, will no longer be seen as their respective teams have not qualified for the semis.

Rehan Butt and Salman Akbar, who were in the city with their families, are leaving by the end of this week. Don Prinse, playing for the Sher-e-Jallandhar, is disappointed at his team’s exit. “We lacked experience and that was the main reason for our defeat. I am in love with this city and don’t want to leave, I will be staying till the semis,” said Don.

“It’s part of the game, although I am upset with the way we played but nothing can be done now. I would be leaving in a day of two, all depends up on the availability of air tickets,” said another foreign player.

Rehan Butt, playing for Maratha Warriors said, “We played well, but it’s a matter of luck. We could not make use of the opportunities we got that is what made the difference. I am disappointed, but have to except it.” 

Chandigarh, January 4
About 13 hockey teams and 10 softball teams have arrived here to participate in the 53 rd National School Games scheduled to begin from today. Pradip Mehra, advisor to the Chandigarh administrator, will inaugurate the games at the Sports Complex, Sector 42, at 11:30 am.

S.K.Setia, DPI(S) and chairman of the organising committee of the 53rd National School Games, inspected various arrangements with his team. The arrangement at GMHS-36 was declared the best and Setia announced a cash prize of Rs 1,000 for the school.

According to him, in addition to boarding and lodging of players, special arrangements have been made to show them the city and its environs. He said the department has made ample transportation arrangements, unlike earlier times where it used to be arranged from private schools. “This will avoid disturbance to private school students. Besides, tourism literature, milk products and juices have been made available at the playgrounds for the first time,” he said.

Besides, a diet control programme would be chalked out by Dr Shreya, a renowned dietician,” Setia added.

Chandigarh, January 4
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda felicitated the junior Indian hockey players at his residence here today.

The chief minister promised to provide all required facilities to improve the game. “Very soon, we will set up an astroturf of international standard at Gurgaon at a cost of Rs 9 crore,” announced the CM.

Hooda also wished the players good luck for forthcoming eighth National Invitational Tournament to be held at Malaysia from January 17 to 27.

Terming the felicitation a nice gesture on the part of the Haryana government, players said, “The felicitation of the junior team by the CM shows his love towards the game. We are happy to be recognised by the government.” The team, along with their coach Ajay Kumar Bansal, presented a signed hockey stick to the chief minister. The team will take on big teams, including Pakistan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Holland and Germany in the tourney. 

Chandigarh, January 4
Advocate Arvind Sandhu and Yogesh bagged the first position in the doubles carrom competition held by the District Bar Association (DBA), Chandigarh. The umpires for the competitions were Shankar Gupta and Vijay Goyal while the prizes were distributed by DBA president A.S. Chahal. — TNS

Chandigarh, January 4
Putting stay on the selection result of the reader’s post in the department of ophthalmology of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, the central administrative tribunal (CAT) has asked the college authorities to provisionally interview the applicant, Subina Narang, on Monday.

The CAT stated: “We direct the respondents to interview the applicant provisionally as it is stated that the UPSC has fixed the interview on January 7, 2008. The director GMCH-32 shall ensure that the necessary service records, including the ACR and integrity certificate, are made available to the selection committee on January 7. The result, however, would not be declared.”

The applicant, who was working as a senior lecturer at Government Medical College and Hospital, stated that although her appointment for the post of reader was due, yet the college had not called her for interview.

The applicant completed her master’s degree in ophthalmology from the PGI in 1997. Thereafter, she worked as a lecturer in the PGI for three from 1998 to 2001. She was appointed as lecturer on contract from 2001 to 2003 at the GMCH-32.

Subsequently, Subina was selected through the union public service commission and was appointed as senior lecturer on regular basis in January 2003. The applicant took maternity leave from March 9, 2005, to September 24, 2005. Meanwhile, the department had issued advertisement inviting applications to fill up the post of the reader.

Counsel for the applicant Puneet Gupta stated in the court, “As per the gazetted post recruitment 2002, the post of reader, ophthalmology, is to be filled up by promotion or deputation, including short-term contract. The departmental senior lecturers with two-year regular service in the grade will also be considered along with the outsiders and in case, he or she is selected for appointment to the post, the same shall be deemed to have been filled by promotion.”