POLITICS

SAD-BJP to hold Punjab rally in Delhi
Chandigarh, February 1
The SAD-BJP ruling alliance has decided to hold a Punjabi rally in Delhi on February 22 to protest against the interference of the Congress in what it called “the religious affairs of the Sikhs” by attempting to divide the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC).

COMMUNITY

Meeting on Resource Mobilisation
No concrete decision taken
Chandigarh, February 1
The Cabinet sub-committee that met here this evening, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, to discuss additional resource mobilisation ended without taking any concrete decision because of serious differences among ministers on certain fiscal matters.

British Columbia to help Punjab in HRD
Chandigarh, February 1
Aboriginal relations and reconciliation minister of British Columbia Michael De Jong has offered to work with the Punjab government in upgrading technical skills and knowledge through experts and teachers exchange programmes in the sphere of primary and secondary education, technical education, skill development, tele-medicine, bio-technology, nano-technology and information technology.

LPG Misuse
Agency made Rs 9 lakh in a month
Ludhiana, February 1
Nirzag Gas Agency owners had allegedly minted Rs 9 lakh in one month by transferring gas from domestic LPG cylinders to commercial cylinders even as domestic users suffered a shortage and even had to buy cylinders at a premium.

Notice issued to PTU under RTI Act
Chandigarh, February 1
The State Information Commission, Punjab, has issued a notice to the Punjab Technical University (PTU) authorities for violating provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act by not providing the required information to an applicant from Mansa.

Budget session from Feb 25
Chandigarh, February 1
The Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday approved the summoning of the 4th session of the 13th Punjab Vidhan Sabha from February 25 to March 19. A spokesman of the Punjab Government said the session would begin with Governor’s Address on February 25 and the budget for the year 2008-09 would be presented on March 11. 

Promotions of Transport Dept staff by Feb 15
Pathankot, February 1
The government has decided to recommence the long-pending promotions of employees of the state Transport Department and the first list of promotions will be released by February 15.

Cop slaps student, residents hold protest
Sangrur, February 1
Residents held a demonstration and raised slogans against the police at the Piran Wala Chowk at Sunam today when a head constable of the Punjab Police Pardeep Singh allegedly slapped a student Jatinder Singh, who was standing at the chowk.

COURTS

ADGP Promotions
Maintain status quo, HC tells Punjab
Chandigarh, February 1
Punjab government’s move to fill up the vacancies of additional directors-general of police (ADGP) today hit a roadblock with a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the state and the director-general of police to maintain status quo.

High Court
Sharma’s appointment to IAS quashed
Chandigarh, February 1
Quashing the orders appointing V.K. Sharma as an IAS officer from non-state civil service cadre, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today suggested the Union Public Service Commission to consider afresh the comparative suitability of all eligible candidates for another post, to which Dharamjit Singh Grewal was appointed in 1998-99.

ADMINISTRATION

Inside Babudom
Many Punjab IAS officers to retire this year
Chandigarh, February 1
One of the senior most IAS officers in the country Bharat Ram Bajaj, who retired from the civil services yesterday, is among the 10 IAS officers who are scheduled to retire in Punjab during this year.

CRIME

Assault Case
Health minister lodges report against NCB official
Amritsar, February 1
Balwinder Kumar, superintendent, Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), who allegedly assaulted and misbehaved with health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla during an operation against a heroin smuggler here yesterday, may find himself in bigger trouble despite his unconditional written apology.

Merchant ‘beaten up’
SHO suspended after traders protest
Sangrur, February 1
Traders and activists of various organisations, including district president of the BJP Jatinder Kalra, today blocked the Sangrur-Delhi main road at Khanauri, about 55 km from here. 

Headmaster in spot over fraud worth lakhs
Tarn Taran, February 1
A fraud worth lakhs of rupees has been detected by the district authorities of the Education Department at Baba Sidhana Government High School, Sheron, 8 km from here, allegedly committed by the headmaster of the school.