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Newly Floated Housing SchemeQuota for UT staff challenged Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 4 The notices were issued by the Bench comprising Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia. Counsel for the petitioner contended that UT employees were not a category that was economically deprived or socially backward. As such, they did not require a preferential treatment over the general public in terms of house allotment. It was also pointed out that the state acquired land for the general public and its resources were meant to be used for the welfare of all. Any preferential treatment to a particular category was against the fundamental rights guaranteed to the petitioner under Article 14 of the Constitution. The petitioner, it was further argued, was entitled to equal treatment. In any case, the employees were already given preference in reimbursement of hospitalisation charges, CTU bus fares and so on. As such, there was no justification in treating them as privileged class over the general public. It was pointed out that the administration could not reserve the houses for its own employees which was against constitutional mandate and quoted law to In a PIL, social activist Naresh Kadyan has sought directions to Google and You Tube to withdraw the videoclip on the late Indira Gandhi. The petition is expected to come up before Justice Nawab Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday. Kadian has also sought directions to the Chandigarh Police to register an FIR against Google, You Tube and others for showing the video, which was “vulgar.” Kadian will appear in person in the matter.
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Labourer killed as gate arch falls
Panchkula, February 4
The gate was being constructed by Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board under the supervision of HUDA. Xen V.K. Kalra was on the spot at the time of the incident. The deceased was identified as Jamna Prasad (22), a labourer from Moradabad district In Uttar pradesh. The injured are Ved Parkash, Vikas, Kundan, Roshan, Sunny, Sachin and Amit. DC Rajinder Kataria has asked the SDM, Panchkula, to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within a month. At 6.45 pm, the iron structure erected to support the 27-ft high arch of ‘Mata Mansa Devi Dwar’ collapsed. Concrete was being filled in the iron structure of the arch at the time of the mishap. The labourers were buried under the debris. The DC, who was passing by the accident spot, ordered rescue operations. Several JCB machines and cranes were pressed into service and the buried workers shifted to the genearl hospital in Sector 6, where Jamna Prasad was declared ‘brought dead’. CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda has declared a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the bereaved family. An equal amount will be paid by the district administration under Rajiv Gandhi Parivar Bima Yojna to the family of the deceased. The injured will be treated free of cost.
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Another clinic sealed in P’kula
Panchkula, February 4 The practitioner would give injections to those suffering from polio and paralysis, claiming she could cure them. It was reported that RKS clinic was being visited by a large number of people from far off places in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, said Dr Garg. It was suspected that she did not have any qualification in the medical profession, said the DHO. The authorities had information that people were being fleeced by the woman who would simply administer B-complex injections to the patients. The local police had sealed a hospital in Sector 20 last week which was allegedly being run by an unqualified ophthalmologist. Following another tipoff, the team descended on a clinic in Sector 20 where a person was treating patients with acupressure.The practitioner was unable to show the requisite certificates to the team. “He was asked to present his certificates before the authorities within this week,” said Dr Garg.
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Murdered engineer’s body found
Mohali, February 4 According to information, Jagmohan Prashar worked with C-DAC as an engineer. While he was coming to Mohali from Delhi on January 10, he hired an autorickshaw for the bus stand. The auto driver, along with three more persons, reportedly kidnapped Prashar and later murdered him. His body was dumped into the Yamuna. The police had recently arrested the auto driver and his accomplices. On questioning, he revealed that the body was thrown into the Yamuna.
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Kansal Land Case Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 4 Mohali’s deputy commissioner Harjit Inder Singh Grewal has referred it to the UT SSP “for necessary action”. In an affidavit submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on a public interest litigation alleging unauthorised occupation of village common land in Kansal by “influential people”, Grewal has stated that he, after the examination of documents, forwarded the file to the UT SSP for necessary action vide letter dated January 18. He has stated: “As regard to the direction of the high court on the aspect of action to be taken by the state against a person who had filed an affidavit with the pseudonym, which had not been correctly shown either for the purpose of registration or for sale deed or any other purpose because somewhere the name of the father was wrongly given and other places the address was wrong, it was submitted that a show cause notice was issued to Sonam Kumar Chhibber, son of B.K.N. Chhibber on January 10, 2008.” Sonam Kumar Chhibber was directed to appear before the undersigned on January 17. Sonam along with his father appeared and submitted his explanation. In his explanation to Grewal, enclosed along the affidavit submitted to the high court, Sonam had stated that he had never authorised the counsel for the other side to file any affidavit on his behalf. Asserting he was not even a party in the matter, Chhibber had stated that the affidavit did not contain correct facts. Although it had been signed and executed by him, he did not have full knowledge of the contents. “I had signed the affidavit without fully understanding the contents thereof and this affidavit was never meant to be presented or filed before the high court,” he had stated. Chhibber had further added the factual position was that he did purchase 32 kanals in Kansal village. However, the same had already been sold. He added there was neither any intent nor any effort to conceal his or his father’s identity, along with the correct address in the sale and the purchase deeds. The case would now come up for hearing before the high court after another Bench was constituted.
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Minister gives Rs 50,000 to Dogra Sabha
Chandigarh, February 4 Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Justice Permod Kohli was the guest of honour. Master Mohan Lal called upon the Dogra youth to maintain the high traditions set by their ancestors and play their part in nation-building. He assured the Dogra Sabha of all help and assistance from the Punjab government in its endeavours.He announced a grant of Rs 50,000 from his discretionary fund.Charak said being a Dogra, he was proud of the efforts of the sabha in uniting the Dogras in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. Justice Kohli also spoke. Kuldip Singh, president of the sabha, said the Dogras had produced three Governors, several generals and renowned doctors and academicians. He said efforts were on to start a helpline for people from J&K coming to the tricity for education and jobs. Former DGP of Punjab, Mr P.C. Dogra, pointed out that the Dogras had a unique culture and the same needed to be preserved. Dr A.K. Gupta,medical superintendent, PGI, and Jatinder Sharma also spoke. Kamal Dogra (poet), Prem Sharma (business), Jagan Nath, Vinod Sharma and Lekh Raj Jasrotia (service to the community) were honoured. The sabha presented a memorandum of demands to the two ministers.
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Distraught shopkeepers approach minister
Our Correspondent
Mohali, February 4 A number of shopkeepers of the rehri market met Capt Kanwaljit Singh to seek his help so that GMADA authorities did not demolish structures built recently to run their business. The earlier kiosks were reduced to heaps of ashes after a major fire broke out in the market on June 1 last year. Later, the shopkeepers run their business from the roadside by making temporary arrangements waiting for GMADA to allot the booths constructed almost three years back. As the allotment process got delayed, shopkeepers once again started making booths at the original rehri market site. On February 1, officials of the enforcement wing of GMADA told the shopkeepers to pull down the recently built structures, failing which GMADA would be compelled to do the same. Shopkeepers were asked to meet senior GMADA officials today. However, instead of meeting GMADA officials, the shopkeepers met Capt Kanwaljit Singh. President of the rehri market Devinder Singh said the minister had assured them that they would not be evicted till booths were allotted to them by GMADA. However, it is learnt that GMADA authorities will write to the deputy commissioner for providing police force for undertaking a demolition drive in Phase 3B1. GMADA officials said the shopkeepers could not be allowed to encroach upon the government land.
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Encroachments removed in Grain Market
Chandigarh, February 4 Some persons had encroached on government land in the Sector 26 Grain Market, causing traffic bottlenecks. Shurbir Singh, SDM (South), and Hargunjit Kaur, land acquisition officer, carried out the drive that started in the morning and continued till afternoon. All encroachments on government land were removed, including extensions by shopkeepers at the back of their shops opening on Madhya Marg. All temporary shops were demolished and material stored in front of showrooms in violation of rules was also lifted and sealed.
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Andhra team studies MC projects
Chandigarh, February 4 They are here to learn the handling of engineering projects and sanitation/water system in the city. Mayor Pardeep Chhabra gave a brief presentation of working of the corporation, including sanitation system, water works, electricity and other functions. Senior deputy mayor Anju Beniwala, deputy mayor Harphool Chander Kalyan, joint commissioner-I T.P.S. Phoolka and XEN public health-I R.P. Gupta were also present. Briefing about the sanitation system in the city, Chhabra said recently a top ranking independent survey agency, AC Nileson ORG, had conducted survey of 18 big cities of India in respect of sanitation status there and Chandigarh was declared cleanest city in respect of cleanliness of roads, efficiency of garbage disposal, dustbins in public place and cleanliness of public toilets, etc. Talking about infrastructure in villages, the mayor said nine villages had been transferred from the UT administration to the municipal corporation and these would be provided with facilities of water supply, sewerage, storm water drainage, roads, parks, etc. on a par with sectors. A survey of the villages was being undertaken to provide the facilities and the work was in progress. Even though the city was already ahead in water supply hours vis-ŕ-vis other cities in India, the municipal corporation by strengthening of its water supply infrastructure had been able to further enhance the supply hours from 12 to 19 hours here, he added. Leader of the visiting delegation Meesala Geetha gave a brief introduction of the delegation and the functioning of the Vizianagaram MC. They appreciated the well-managed sanitation system here and also greenery in parks and roadsides. Earlier, the delegation visited the garbage processing plant and landfill site near Dadu Majra, 39 water works, Rose Garden, Shanti Kunj, etc. The delegation includes Mudili Jyothi, Dukka Lakshmi, Pinninti Chandra Mouli, Potnuru Venkata Rao, Palavalasa Jyothi, Penumajji Vijayalakshmi, Yerramsetti Suneeta, Karanam Gangadhara Rao, Meka Kasi Visweswarudu, Tatraju Krishna Rao, Majji Babu Rao, Karanam Ramana Rao, Manchala Sivani, Chandaka Janaki Devi, Patnana Pydiraja, Yevarna Kumara Swamy, Kedarasetty Seetarammurthy, Kolagatla Venkata Naga Thammanna Setty, Grandhi Lakshmi, Asapu Venu, Lenka Ramamohan, Somu Rambabu, Setty Veera Venkata Rajeswara Rao, Sayyad Gowsh, Mahaboobunnisha Begum, K. Prasad, M. Jaganmohana Rao, P.V. Rao, B.S. Rao, M.R. Chraju and P.S.N. Raju.
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Conventional fuel not for this engine
Chandigarh, February 4 Likely to cost around Rs 35,000, the engine is the result of an experiment based on the inter-convertibility of energy, which means that energy can never be created nor destroyed. Kanishk and Lipika Sinha, managing director and chairman of Kolkata-based Jasper Motor Vehicle Company, respectively, while talking to TNS here said they had invented the technology three years ago and had now approached Tata Motors to forge an alliance. They will soon launch a public issue to set up a motor vehicle plant at Sonepur in Bihar. Kanishk Sinha said he had got the engine patented with Big Patents India, which is supported by the Ford Foundation. The couple, who are post-graduates in physics, claim to have carried out research for several years before concluding that a chemical reaction with zinc and pure oxygen causes energy to run a dynamo. Recycling the energy will lead a vehicle to run without conventional fuel. They said the engine will require servicing after 4.5 lakh km.
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Taking IT benefits to masses
Chandigarh, February 4 In fact, with a view to passing on the benefits of the IT to the masses for better governance, the conference will provide a knowledge-sharing platform and a forum for policy makers, industry leaders and academicians to deliberate, interact and develop an actionable strategy for bringing transparency in public life. The theme of the conference is “Integrated citizen services - issues and challenges”. To be jointly organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievance, Department of Information Technology of the Government of India, and the Haryana Government, the inaugural session of the conference will be presided over by Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai. The conference will enable delegates to share success stories emanating from states and countries, which have already taken a lead in e-governance. This will become an important forum to share the expertise of IT companies, which have the credit of taking major strides in the area. Union minister of communication and information technology A. Raja will present the national awards for e-governance.
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21 beggars traced
Chandigarh, February 4 According to DPI (S), two teams from the labour department, along with the camera men, visited the PGI, Panjab University campus, High Court Complex, Rock Garden, Sector 7 and Mani Majra. This campaign will be continued in the days to come.
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Annual day celebrations
Chandigarh, February 4 Dr Zora Singh, chairman of the Desh Bhagat Group of Institutes, was the chief guest on the occasion. A cultural programme was organised as part of the annual day
celebrations.
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Will Army get a fair deal?
Defence minister A.K. Antony said at the NCC Republic Day camp in New Delhi on January 19, that conscription was not a solution. Instead, the government, he said, would make a career in the armed forces more attractive. Antony has said several times in the last few months that he expected the Sixth Pay Commission to give better salaries and perks to the armed forces, which are short of over 14,264 officers. The past experience shows that it is the bureaucrat who is the deciding factor and not the politician. Take the case of “one-rank, one-pension” demand, which was decided in favour of the armed forces by the V.P. Singh government in 1989. But it was the “Jafa Committee”, headed by V.S. Jafa, a former secretary (Finance), Ministry of Defence, which scuttled this demand. Now, when the Sixth Pay Commission is in session and the majority opinion in the country is that to keep the Army going, it should be given an attractive package. Jafa has still not changed his opinion. In his two identical (Edit page) articles in The Tribune, on August 17 and September 18 last year, his thrust point was that the Army should not be paid more. In both articles, he said: “The established relativities in the government pay system are not easy to be overlooked. Moreover, in the government (including the armed forces), salaries are uniformly given to all, irrespective of the nature of job or individual performance...” So long as Jafas rule the roost, the Army cannot expect a fair deal. First Victoria Cross
The first Army Commander of the Northern Command, which was raised at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir in 1972, was the late
Lieut-Gen P.S. Bhagat. He was the first Indian in World War II, who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest gallantry award of the British Empire. It was in 1941 that the then Second Lieutenant Bhagat of the Bombay Engineers Group, popularly known as Bombay Sappers, won the VC by leading a relentless pursuit through the extensive minefield in the Abyssinian Campaign. General Bhagat was one of the most popular senior officers and was held in high esteem by the officers and
jawans. Bombay Sappers still celebrate Victoria Cross Day every year to commemorate the award to General
Bhagat.
Unique function
The beating of the retreat at Vijay Chowk on Rajpath in New Delhi, on January 29, every year, is considered as one of the best functions of its kind in the world. This is the only occasion when the massed bands, both brass and pipe, from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force attired in their colourful dresses enthral a select gathering at Vijay
Chowk. Military bands have a special significance in a soldier’s life. For, martial music is known to have inspired soldiers during wartime. In the olden days, battles used to commence at the sounding of the reveille in the morning and come to a halt at the sounding of the retreat in the evening. The standard of bands started falling in the 1970s. But subsequent to the creation of a post of inspector of bands at each command headquarters and with the beginning of bands’ competitions the bands regained their standard.
— Pritam Bhullar
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Tourist resort at Hathnikund
Chandigarh, February 4
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Traffic police take cue from Oz
The increasing traffic is choking City Beautiful. Widening of roads is not the only solution to the problem because its not about space, its about unorganised driving. I suggest that the Chandigarh traffic police should take cue from the roads of Sydney, Australia, which are not wide but still there are no traffic jams because of organised traffic. The traffic police should take serious steps towards implementing lane system on the heavy traffic roads. This will solve the problem of chaos and jams even if the roads are narrow. Atul Narang , ChandigarhReaders are invited to write to us. Send your mail, in not more than 200 words, at news@tribuneindia.com or, write in, at: Letters, Chandigarh Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh – 160 030
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Chandigarh Bhavan Vidyalaya best in India
Chandigarh, February 4 The award, received by principal Meenakshi Mohindra at Mumbai recently, came to the school in recognition of its extraordinary achievements in academics, cultural, literary and sports activities.The school was choosen for this award out of 380 bhavan institutions in India and abroad. As it was not a nomination-based award, the achievement was all the more creditable since an independent team surveyed the school for its activities in all spheres, including academic, extra-curricular and sports.Relying on the inputs received from a team of the eminent educationists, the head offices awarded the school The principal credited the award to teachers contribution in providing quality education aimed at the overall development of the students. The emphasis at bhavan was to inculcate moral values and yet keeping the students abreast with modern ways of living, she added. In fact, for the school has another reason to celebrate as one of its teachers Amarjit Oberoi also got the “Jindal Award for Best Teacher” in primary category. The award, also awarded by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan headquarters, was conferred on her for her innovative and creative teaching at the pre-school level.
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Psycho fest at GC-11
Tribune News service
Chandigarh, February 4 Symposium: A national symposium on potential of biological sciences in making India a developed country was organised at Government for Girls, Sector 42. The University Grants Commission, New Delhi and Indian Association of Biology Teachers (colleges), Patiala, jointly sponsored the symposium. Prof N.K. Ganguly, former director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, was the chief guest while Panjab University vice-chancellor Prof R.C. Sobti was the guest of honour. Inaugurated: Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) inaugurated a state-of-the-art auditorium at Government College, Sector 46, today. Having seating capacity of more than 800 persons, the auditorium is constructed at a cost of 2.25 crore. Adviser to UT administrator Pradip Mehra, home-cum-education secretary Krishan Mohan, finance secretary Sanjay Kumar, director of higher education Raji P. Shrivastava, principal of the college Dr K.S. Saluja and other dignitaries attended the function. Students presented a cultural programme. General S.F. Rodrigues said it was a challenge for the college students to make the best and maximum use of the auditorium and ensure that it was maintained properly.
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Bhagat Singh remembered
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 4 He expressed his dismay at the financial crunch that the Panjab University was facing at the moment and asked the vice-chancellor to accompany him to request the Prime Minister to release, at least, Rs 100 crore immediately to bail out the university from its current financial crisis. PU vice-chancellor Prof R.C. Sobti highlighted the pivotal role that the university had played as academic leader in the region. Fire
Panic was created at the department of laws of Panjab University after a minor fire broke out following a short circuit. However, soon the things were brought under control. According to the fire officer, though there was panic among students, yet nothing was serious. Lecture
Prof Yogendra Yadav, senior fellow, CSDS, New Delhi, delivered the third Professor Pradeep Kumar Memorial Lecture titled "Whither Political Science: Reflections on Knowledge of Politics and Politics of Knowledge". The lecture was organised by the department of political science today. He spoke about the dismal state of discipline of political science in India. Answering a query regarding the sorry state of the discipline, he dismissed popular reasons like lack of the "right" material in terms of students and decline in terms of institutions and funding. He said discipline was cut off from the volatile political realities of Indian democracy. Condolence
Faculty, staff members and students of the department of sociology, Centre for Emerging Areas in Social Sciences and Population Research Centre, PU, held a condolence meeting today at the department of sociology to express the grief and shock over the tragic demise of R.S. Teja, husband of Prof M.K. Teja. Seminar
The department of philosophy will hold a national seminar on "Person, Consciousness and Culture" from February 6 to 8 as part of the university's diamond jubilee celebrations. Themes in the seminar include human consciousness and cultural freedom; person and consciousness; person and culture and cultural traditions.
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Sec-21 model school gets computer lab
Chandigarh, February 4 The administration has provided 10 LCDs and an air conditioner to the school. The labs will be functional from the coming session. DPI (S) stated that 10 other schools, including Government Model Senior Secondary Schools of 15, 20-B, 45, 56 and Government Senior Secondary School, Dadu Majra, would get such labs soon.
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Sexual harassment Swati Sharma Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 4 A Class XII student had alleged that Vinod Kumar, a teacher at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, had been sexually harassing her. Terming his removal from job as “misconceived” and “illegal”, the CAT asked the DPI to take him him back within two months. A Division Bench comprising Justice M. Ramachandran and member Tarsem Lal stated: “It may be within the jurisdiction of the DPI, Schools, to accomodate Vinod Kumar in a different school. The applicant will not be entitled to the salary for the period of termination. However, the period will be counted as service for all other purposes, excepting payment of salary and attendance benefits. He will be entitled to increments, if any.” The applicant was appointed physical education teacher on a contract basis in August 2000. He got a show-cause notice on November 20, 2006, regarding allegation of sexual harassment by a girl student during the September, 2006, supplementary exams. The notice sought an explanation from him within 45 hours. Vinod Kumar pleaded he was not given a fair opportunity to establish that allegations against him were false. The CAT said the said girl might have some unexplained fear about the applicant.
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Bajaj Allianz told to pay Rs 1 lakh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 4 The forum further asked the insurance firm to pay Rs 15,000 on account of harassment along with Rs 2,500 as costs of litigation. The petitioner, Reshma, a resident of Mani Majra, stated that her husband Prem Chand got himself insured through an agent for a sum of Rs 1 lakh in March 23, 2003. The petitioner paid yearly installments of Rs 9,115 for the policy. However, her husband died in July, 2005. When Reshma submitted the claim, the insurance firm repudiated it on the grounds that the deceased was already suffering from diabetes. Replying to the petition, the insurance firm stated that Prem Chand got the insurance policy issued by misinterpreting facts and had been suffering from chronic
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