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Preity Zinta installs Kings
Mohali, March 31
It’s official now. The Mohali team, being led by all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, is “Kings XI Punjab”. This was formally announced by the co-promoter of the team and actor Preity Zinta during the launch ceremony of the team at the Punjab Cricket Stadium here today.

Preity Zinta jumps with joy while Yuvraj and Daler Mehndi look on during the launch of the team’s anthem.

Preity with players of Team Mohali at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Monday. Tribune photos: Vicky Gharu

Online correction in AIEEE forms now possible
Chandigarh, March 31
From this session on, the convenience of aspirants for the AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Examination) is a priority with the CBSE. The examination will be held on April 27 and the board has received 8.62 lakh application forms.

Hung House: Focus shifts to Independents
Panchkula, March 31
The fractured mandate by voters has shifted focus to eight Independents who made it to the civic body house in the elections contested yesterday as all three parties, the Congress, BJP and INLD, have shown their aversion to an alliance for the post of the local body chief.

Yellow sparkles: Flowers of Tacoma Argentea form a blanket at Rose Garden in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Krishan Mohan repatriated
Chandigarh, March 31
The UT home secretary, Krishan Mohan, was today relieved of his charge following the order of the ministry of home affairs which were received late this evening.

Newly elected councillor assaults women
Villagers protest against police
Panchkula, March 31
A newly elected muncipal councillor and his supporters allegedly misbehaved and assaulted women at Abhaypur village late this evening.

COMMUNITY

CHB Scheme Small is big for UT employees
Chandigarh, March 31
In a departure from the past, one bedroom and one-room tenement for the economically weaker sections (EWS) have caught the fancy of a majority of UT employees in the special housing scheme for them floated recently by the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB).

Class VIII Toppers Amandeep Singh 92.4%, Harmanpreet Kaur 91.2%

World Punjabi Conference
‘Threat to Punjabiyat from within and without’
Chandigarh, March 31
The concluding day of the first World Punjabi Conference at Panjab University began with speeches by renowned scholars on the subject “Punjabi identity in the globalised context”.

Conference a mere ritual: Scholars

A noble effort: UK resident 

City waiting to burst at its seams
Chandigarh, March 31
Union minister of state for finance Pawan Kumar Bansal today released the District Census Handbook of the Directorate of Census Operations, Chandigarh, at a function organised at Art Gallery, sector 10, here.

Expert calls for more jobs in organised sector
Chandigarh, March 31
Former member of the Planning Commission, Prof Arjun K Sengupta, today called upon a substantive and proactive economic policy in order to create more jobs in the organised sector.

Former member of the Planning Commission, Prof Arjun K Sengupta, delivers a talk at the Center for Research in Rural and Industrial Development in Chandigarh on Monday. A Tribune photograph 

MC just can’t fix this pipe
Chandigarh, March 31
One can well imagine the expertise of the MC that has failed to fix a leaking water pipe for the past over three decades. The perennial problem on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway has become a nightmare for commuters due to routine traffic jams. Last night also, the pipeline developed a leak and the road was flooded. Much to the inconvenience of motorists, the streetlights at the rotary were also not functional. A diversion sign had also not been installed there.

A leaking pipe being repaired at the rotary of Sectors 29, 30, 31 and 32 in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik 

No response to clearance of building plans
Mohali, March 31
Due to the lackadaisical attitude of the officials of the municipal council, the civic body has so far not received a single application for the clearance of building plans since the government notification issued in this regard more than three months ago. This attitude of the officials concerned has not only led to haphazard construction but also to a loss of revenue to the cash strapped council.

Consumer court for Mohali sought
Mohali, March 31
The Consumers Protection Forum has demanded that a court for dealing with complaints of Mohali residents be set up in the town at the earliest.

Man alleges thrashing by cop, backtracks
Mohali, March 31
Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Phase IX, alleged here today that the police beat him up when he went to lodge a complaint regarding the theft of his motorcycle.

Transit fee of tenements increased
Chandigarh, March 31
The municipal corporation today enhanced the transit fee of small room tenements in Mauli Jagran and other parts of the city by 25 per cent.

Congress elects office-bearers
Chandigarh, March 31
The Congress organised workers’ meet-2008 at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, Sector 35 C, yesterday. Union minister of state for finance Pawan Kumar Bansal, president of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee B.B. Behl, mayor Pardeep Chhabra and other prominent leaders were present.

Fire Safety Teams to carry out surprise checks
Chandigarh, March 31
The fire and emergency services committee today decided to carry out surprise checks to see if fire safety guidelines were being followed in government and private buildings here.

Woman sets herself afire
Chandigarh, March 31
Sukhwinder, a 19-year-old woman, allegedly set herself ablaze at her Faidan village residence, here last evening.

Letters
Punjab pay commission, a futile exercise

EDUCATION

Edu dept holds counselling session for students
Chandigarh, March 31
Today being the result declaration day for all classes, the officials of the Chandigarh education department, accompanied by subject experts and renowned counsellors, visited various schools of the city to meet students, particularly those who failed to do well in the examination. 


Counsellors talk to a ‘detained’ student at a government school in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Vinay Malik

PU falling victim to politics, feel teachers
Chandigarh, March 31
Teachers and students of Panjab University today held a joint protest rally on the call given by PUTA and students’ council at Students’ Centre. Speakers at the rally criticised the callous attitude of the politicians towards the university. 


Teachers and students of Panjab University hold a joint protest rally in Chandigarh 
on Monday. A Tribune photograph

PU Notes
Students bid farewell to seniors
Chandigarh, March 31
Students of MSc-I (mathematics) organised a farewell function, ‘Sham-e-Rukhsat’, in the department of statistics today. The function began with Saraswati vandana and a welcome song. Some fun loving and mind-troubling games were also organised. Xitiz Gupta and Rajesh Sharma of MSc-II were chosen as Miss Statistics and Mr Statistics, respectively. The cultural event concluded with a gidda by MSc-I students. Prof G.P. Mehta gave away the prizes.

DAV college principal retires
Chandigarh, March 31
Dr S. Marriya retired today after putting in six years of service as a principal at DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh. His friends and colleagues gave him a warm send-off at the Chandigarh Club.

Dr S. Marriya

Mass copying at GHS-42
Chandigarh, March 31
Mass copying was reported from Government High School, Sector 42, here, one of the centres for Class X examination conducted by the Punjab School Education Board.

From Schools & Colleges
‘Samvardhanam’ at St Vivekanand Millennium
Panchkula, March 31
The annual result declaration function ‘Samvardhanam’ was celebrated by St Vivekanand Millennium School, HMT Township, Pinjore, in Dr B.R. Ambedkar auditorium, Pinjore near here, yesterday. Monika Malik, HCS, SDM, Kalka, was the chief guest. 

COURTS

Judge for policy on parole
Chandigarh, March 31
Justice Mahesh Grover of the High Court has called for the framing of a policy regarding the release of convicts on parole. Taking up a petition filed by a murder convict against the denial of parole to him by the district magistrate, Justice Grover has also imposed costs of Rs 5,000.

HC stay on Gwala colony demolition
Chandigarh, March 31
Issuing notice of motion to the UT administration and other respondents on a petition filed by Gwala colony residents in Mani Majra against the shifting of their colony, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed demolition in  the area.

Rape accused acquitted
Chandigarh, March 31
Two years after being accused of gang rape, additional district and sessions R.K. Sondhi acquitted Bhupinder for lack of evidence in the case today.

Cable tariff to be charged as per notification
Chandigarh, March 31
Taking note of the practice of over-charging by cable operators in the city, the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has clarified that as per a memorandum issued by the ministry of finance in December 2007, cable operators here cannot charge more than Rs 220 for over 45 channels.

INSO chief surrenders
Chandigarh, March 31
After evading arrest for days, INSO president Vikas Rathi surrendered in the district courts today. The police was hunting for him after he, along with other activists of INSO, went to the VC’s office to protest against the proposed fee hike on March 19.

INSO president Vikas Rathi along with his supporters outside the district courts in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Monday. A Tribune photograph

ADMINISTRATION

Chief administrator to approve advts
Chandigarh, March 31
The chief administrator-cum-finance secretary will approve all permissions for display of advertisement in the city under the Advertisement Control Order, 1954.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

BEd students protest varsity decision
Patiala, March 31
Nearly 150 students of BEd courses of Punjabi University staged a dharna in front of the office of the dean (colleges) to protest against the university’s decision to take their examinations in Punjabi language.

Residents threaten to sue govt over road blockade
Patiala, March 31
Hundreds of city residents are sore over the fact that the main road in Baradari Gardens, just in front of the site of a proposed hotel, is blocked. They have threatened to sue the government if the road was not opened to traffic immediately.

Dhabas fail to maintain hygiene
Kharar, March 31
As many as 50 big and small dhabas situated on Kharar-Mohali road, especially near Balongi tax barrier, serve truck drivers, mechanics and cleaners everyday. Working almost round the clock, majority of these dhabas serve unhygienic food cooked in unhealthy conditions. But little is being done by the health authorities to check them.

11-yr-old run over by car, dies
Kharar, March 31
Shyam Singh (11), a resident of Mata Gujri Sukh Niwas Anath Ashram at Khanpur village, was killed in an accident today.

SPORTS

Rohan, Purav move to second round
Chandigarh, March 31
Local star Vijayant Malik and Yannick Nelord found themselves at the receiving end against third seeded pair of Rohan Gajjar and Purav Raja in the doubles first-round match during the Futures ITF Men's Circuit played at CLTA Stadium in Sector 10,  here today.

Hyun-woo nam of Korea returns a shot during his Ist round match against Vijay Kannan during the ITF Men's circuit at the CLTA stadium in Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Monday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

IPL Team Launch
Last-minute change in venue disappoints fans
Chandigarh, March 31
The last minute change in the venue for the launch of IPL Team Mohali, from Sector 17 to PCA Stadium, left people disappointed at Sector 17 Plaza.

HDFC beat Airtel XI by 8 wickets 
Chandigarh, March 31
HDFC Bank defeated Airtel XI by eight wickets in the ongoing Vth Bharat Kesho Memorial Cricket Tournament at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, here yesterday.  Batting first, Airtel XI posted a respectable total of 112 runs in alloted 20 overs. Balwinder top scored with 38 runs while Rajesh Jadeja chipped in with valuable 25 runs.

Vivek academy emerge winners
Chandigarh, March 31
Vivek High Asian Cricket Academy beat Twenty 20 Cricket Association of Uttar Pardesh by seven runs in the final match of Vivek Twenty 20 Cricket Tournament organised by T20CFI and Vivek High Asian Cricket Academy. The tournament was played at Vivek High School Sector 38 - B, here today.

Anmol scripts APJ Academy’s triumph 
Chandigarh, March 31
A brilliant knock of 79 by Anmol Singh paved the way for APJ Academy of Kharar beat Mohali Cricket Academy by three wickets in a closely fought pool ‘B’ match of the Chandigarh under-13 Inter-Academy Cricket Tournament being organised by Desh Prem Azad Cricket Academy at the St Stephen's School ground in Sector 45 here today.

CRIME

Two cars stolen
Chandigarh, March 31
At least two cars were stolen from the city during the past 24 hours.

BUSINESS

Financial Year Closure
Transactions worth Rs 1098 cr effected
Chandigarh, March 31
Transactions worth Rs 1098.33 crore were effected in the tricity, as the financial year 2007-08 drew to a close today. These transactions were carried out through 30,165 instruments (cheques). Enquiries revealed that while cheques worth Rs 975.50 crore were effected on March 29, 251 instruments worth Rs 122.83 crore were cleared today. All cheques cleared today were of taxes deposited by residents. During the day, a huge rush was witnessed at the tax collection counters set up by authorised banks in the tricity for the deposition of advance income tax, central excise tax and fringe benefit tax.

Stock Clearance
Bacchus lovers party amid fallen prices
Chandigarh, March 31
Once again, it was time for Bacchus lovers in the city to enjoy whisky and beer at a discount.

CULTURE

Classical maestro casts spell
Chandigarh, March 31
The Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi presented a programme of Punjabi songs and ghazals written and composed by eminent classical maestro Ravinder Singh at the Randhawa auditorium here today.

Musician duo mesmerises medicos
Chandigarh, March 31
Acclaimed classical vocal music wizards Pandit Rajan Mishra and Sajan Mishra of Benaras gharana administered an overdose of melodious music to the medical fraternity during a musical soiree held at the Government Medical College auditorium-32 here today.
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Renowned vocalists Pandit Rajan Mishra and Sajan Mishra perform at the GMCH auditorium in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan