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Forest Hill Case CBI submits sealed report to High Court Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 4 The CBI has sought the prosecution of Lt Col B.S. Sandhu (retd), IFS officers J.S. Samundri and Harsh Kumar, IAS officer K.B.S. Sidhu, resort estate officer Rajiv Bajaj, WWICS Private Limited and Dashmesh Educational Society, Karoran. The CBI has also recommended a major penalty against some officers, including IAS officers S.C. Agarwal and G.S. Grewal, and the then DFO, Ropar, Parveen Kumar, “for their acts of omission and commission”. The CBI has also expressed apprehension regarding the destruction of forest cover by Lt Col Sandhu, the man behind the show. The information forms a part of an application placed by the CBI before a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising acting Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal. Taking up the matter this morning, the Bench allowed the application for placing on record the “final status report in a sealed cover”. The CBI had initiated an inquiry in October 2004 against executive and administrative functionaries of the Punjab and Central government, along with the president of the Dashmesh Educational Society, Karoran, Lt Col B.S. Sandhu (retd) and others. The action followed High Court directions to the CBI to look into the question of accountability of officers and their involvement in establishing and developing the resort. In its detailed application, along with a sealed report, the CBI stated that the inquiry report was submitted in the High Court on April 12, 2006. The probe was conducted and the final status report had been submitted on February 7, 2008. The CBI also sought directions to the departments concerned to take action against officers who had obtained the club’s honorary or ex-officio concessional paid membership without intimating their departments. The agency also recommended action “as deemed appropriate” against the then assistant executive engineer (commercial), R.K. Gulati, the then assistant executive engineer (technical-II), R.K. Sahi, and the then senior executive engineer (operation) in the PSEB, P.S. Bains. Action has also been sought against IRS officer Anil Kumar Gupta, who was the then additional commissioner, central excise, Chandigarh, and IRS officer Neeraj Kansal, who was the then joint commissioner, central excise, IGI Airport, New Delhi. The CBI said these officers had obtained honorary membership of the club in lieu of cheques and drafts collected from firms and persons for advertisements in a souvenir to be published by the club. Action on similar grounds has also been sought against PPS officer Jasdev Singh Sidhu. He was posted as DSP, Raj Bhawan. The application added there was apprehension that the destruction of forest was still continuing and construction was also being carried out since the area was heavily fortified and the entry of people not directly related to the case was prohibited. Government agencies were also not inclined to take effective action because the matter was being investigated by the CBI and it was pending before the court.
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Rainwater enters houses of judges
Aarti Kapur Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 4 The downpour this afternoon sent several judges, residing in Sector 24, scurrying home, leaving behind their court work, as water from overflowing drains and sewage flooded their driveways and lawns. The MC commissioner, Dr Roshan Sunkaria, was summoned at the residence of a judge, where eight other judges were also present, and was given a dressing down. The infuriated judges asked him why the work that had started two months ago not been completed until now. Sunkaria was at pains to explain that the MC house had sanctioned Rs 94 lakh and the work to change the sewerage would be completed soon. Though waterlogging in the area has become a perennial problem, what is shocking is that six months ago the judges had called a special meeting of MC officials who had assured them that the problem would be resolved by changing the sewerage line. The judges were also told that until the time the sewerage was replaced, booster pumps would be installed to check waterlogging.Far from changing the sewerage before the onset of the monsoon, MC officials also failed to install booster pumps. Even the sewerage and drains were not cleaned, leading to waterlogging. Muddy water stains on boundary walls indicated that at least one-and-a-half feet of water had collected in the lawns. While MC personnel were trying to open clogged drains, the domestic help of judges were seen draining out the water with buckets. Talking to the Tribune, a visibly shaken Sunkaria said while all necessary sanctions had been obtained, the work could not commence because of the early onset of the monsoon. “We will start the work as soon as the rains stop,” he said. He claimed that special staff had been deputed to check clogging of the main sewerage so that a similar situation did not recur.
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SHO commits ‘suicide’, wife booked
Mohali, August 4 The police has registered a case under Section 306 of the IPC against his wife Harpreet
Kaur, his father-in-law Avtar Singh and mother-in-law Sital Kaur on the statement of the father of the deceased, Pritam Singh.
Pritam, who lived in Bhorla village, near Samrala, had alleged that Parminder Singh Dhillon (40) was harassed by his wife and in-laws. The father-in-law of the deceased has been arrested by the police. Soon after getting the information about the alleged suicide by the inspector, the police reached the railway station to rush him to a
According to reports, Dhillon was staying with his wife and in-laws in Phase XI. He and his wife had a tiff yesterday after which heated arguments followed between the two. He then left the house. The in-laws informed this to the police. An employee of the railways saw the inspector lying near the platform this morning. He was in great discomfort and asking for water. The matter was brought to the notice of the railway authorities which then informed the police. His turban, socks and shoes were lying at a little distance while a broken bottle of beer and an empty bottle of celphos tablets were found on the platform across the railway line. Pritam Singh told mediapersons that Dhillon had started staying with his wife and in-laws after marriage. It is learnt that the inspector had got married in 1995 and it was an inter-caste love marriage. His wife worked as a school teacher. However, his father-in-law had alleged that Dhillon used to consume liquor and quarrel with them. He had two daughters and a son. DSP Sant Singh, working with the Vigilance Bureau, said the inspector was a very decent person and was not in the habit of consuming liquor. The deceased had joined the Vigilance Bureau about a year ago. Earlier, he had even worked as SHO of the Phase XI police station. A board of three doctors was set up to conduct a post-mortem on the body. Viscera have been sent to Kharar for a chemical examination.
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Rajpura loses 18 in stampede
Rajpura, August 4 Eight people were from Rajpura, seven from Sadharsi village in Ghanaur block, two were from Gopalpur near Rajpura and a woman from Bhappal. Seven family members, including Krishna Devi, Sushma Rani, their children Aushotosh, Yadvinder and Ruchi were also killed in the stampede. Two children of Narinderpal also belong to the same family, Seema and Rohit were also killed in the incident. All victims were cremated at Rajpura where a large number people from various social and religious organisations of the area were present. The inconsolable family members unable to bear with the tragedy failed to utter any word. "I feel like I have killed my nephew. He was standing beside me and when the stampede took place, I picked him up and held him close to my chest to save him and despite this he died right in my arms," said Rajesh Singh. The other victims of the tragedy include Bikram of village Neelpur, Jaswant Kaur and Gurpreet Kaur, both residents of Gopalpur, and Manjit Kaur from Bhappal. Seven members of two families in Sadharsi were also cremated today. The victims from the family were identified as Kulwinder Kaur wife of Gurmeet Singh, their daughter Mandeep Kaur, son Mandeep Singh and Harbans Kaur wife of Gulzar Singh. The other family members include Darshana Devi, their son Krishan Kumar and Manjit Kaur.
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Man embarks on ‘green mission’
Chandigarh, August 4 In fact, with trees in the neighbouring states making way for various development projects, including mega housing projects, Nazim thought it prudent to tour the states to create awareness about the dwindling tree cover. "We should realise the threats posed by the decreasing forest cover causing ecological crisis in the states," Nazim told The Tribune, before embarking on his mission in his modified Maruti car here today. Through awareness about the environment, Nazim wanted to drive home the point of healthy living. In fact, he had prepared an easy-to- understand presentation about the environment protection and healthy living. “Environment and health are inter-related and they have to be seen as an integral part of the strategy to improve the living standards of the people,” he asserted. Nazim, who set up a small industry by sheer dint of hard work at Palsora village, has a valid reason for his concern for health and environment. Both his parents died of jaundice with his mother dying when he was just eight years old. “With economic worries no longer staring in the face, I thought is appropriate to contribute my bit towards environment protection,” he added. The young environmentalist had some success with the residents of Chandigarh's periphery as he "persuaded" them to plant scores of saplings, mostly medicinal plants, which would go a long way in providing better health to the people. Nazim claimed that he had set a target of 25,000 saplings by the next World Environmental Day (June 6). For the like-minded people and organisations, he has set up an eco helpline at 94173-05406.
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New parking norms for city
Chandigarh, August 4 This means all building plans, especially those under the Industrial Conversion Policy, will have to adhere to the revised parking norms. Already upset over the administration allowing more FAR to the converted plots above three acres, the applicants of smaller plots have demanded that parking norms should be made applicable for future cases. As per the instructions issued by the chief administrator under the Capital of Punjab (Development and Reshuffling) Act, 1952, any new plan which comes for approval to the chief architect or the plan advisory committee in the estate office would have to adhere to the new norms which double the previous parking norms. Decision has been made for making parking provision equivalent to the number of floors constructed for all houses located on the plot of one kanal and above. As an incentive for motivation, the parking area is being exempted from the floor area ratio (FAR). However, to encourage more parking, it has also been decided that parking on the surface as multi-level parking will also be allowed without area being counted towards FAR and only 50 per cent of permissible ground coverage will be counted towards ground coverage. At present, for every 50 sq feet, there is provision for one vehicle or car parking, which has been doubled. Multi-level parking will be made available with free FAR.
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ISBT-43 contractor overcharging
Chandigarh, August 4 The contractor of underground parking for scooter and motorcycle at the bus stand was found overcharging from parking users. The users, who park their vehicles for less than two hours, were asked to pay Rs 5 instead of the prescribed rate i.e. Rs 3. Apart from fleecing the people, the rude behaviour of the contractor’s men, manning the entry point, was also shocking. “So what if he (the contractor’s man) asks for extra money. You can pay Rs 3”, said an employee when this correspondent questioned him on overcharging. When he was told that the CTU authorities had slapped a fine on the car-parking contractor for the same offence, the man seemed least bothered. “You can approach anyone. I don’t bother” was his answer.
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Downpour has city inundated
Chandigarh, August 4 People were seen pushing their vehicles which stopped due to slow drainage of water from the road. Sector 37, 36, 24, 23, 35, 34, 20, 43, 44, 45 colony no 4 and colony 5 were the worst-hit areas. Varun Kumar in Sector 36 said, “Due to traffic jam, he had to wait for over two hours to reach his destination. Vehicles were nearly dipped in water. The real problem was for those who were on rickshaws, two-wheelers and on foot.” Choked drains and waterlogged streets made it nearly impossible for residents to move out of their houses and those who tried to travel were left in the lurch. Every commuter on the streets was seen struggling hard to escape the water apathy. The residents rued that despite the fact they had lodged complaints with the civic body to fix their faulty drainage system in their areas, the authorities concerned had failed to address their grievances. It was also reported that a boundary wall of the resident of Sector 22 fell due to heavy rain today. Residents of slums on the outskirts of the city claimed that several thatched huts in low-lying areas were washed away in rainy water. Power was also disrupted in some of the areas of the city.
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Cops fail to extract vital details
Ramanjit Singh Sidhu Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 4 This was evident today as the police officials failed to convince the court for extension of his remand and as a result he was sent to judicial custody. The police claimed to have solved the Dimpy murder with Rocky’s arrest but their entire case hinges on the .45 bore pistol seized from his possession. Though it is also being claimed that Rocky had confessed that the same pistol was used to kill Dimpy, a forensic examination of the weapon is still to be conducted, as it was reportedly sent to the CFSL today only. In absence on any other corroborative evidence and the failure of the police to trace the so-called shooters, Surinder Kumar and Sunil, named by Rocky, the case as of now appears “weak”, confess some officials who are privy to the investigations. “Rocky’s statement to the police is inadmissible in the court and no effort has been made to get it recorded under 164 CrPC. What if he denies that the weapon is his and tomorrow accuses the police of planting it on him,” they say, adding that a lot of questions need to be answered by the investigating team. Meanwhile, rocky was today produced before the local courts amidst tight security. He was flanked by a contingent of 15-armed policemen of the crime branch following a threat perception to his life.
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Admn following two sets of rule
Rajmeet Singh Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 4 While the administration admits to an average increase of 30 per cent on rates of land while justifying the fixing of the value of agricultural land at Rs 46.80 lakh per acre as the collector rate for charging stamp duty, it refuses to accept the same justification while working out the rates for acquiring land in UT villages. As a result, landowners are handed down a compensation as low as Rs 7.50 lakh an acre for a recent acquisition in Khuda Lahora for a mega project or Rs 18.86 lakh an acre for another acquisition in Mani Majra for the IT park. The Land Acquisition Act and Standing Order No. 28 of the Punjab Financial Commissioner Revenue (as applicable to the UT) is cited to workout the methodology to calculate land compensation rates. The orders do not allow a uniform rate of compensation for all UT villages. At present, the average rate of villages is fixed on the basis of the sale deeds entered in the mutation register of revenue record, a year prior to the date of notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act. “It is known fact that a number of land deals are being registered over and above Rs 1 crore. Recently, a land deal in Khuda Lahora and Kaimbawala villages was registered at around Rs 3 crore an acre. If the government considers all the UT villages as one entity to check evasion of revenue, it should be realistic in having a uniform land compensation policy,” said Angrez Singh, president of the pind bachao committee. Highlighting another contradiction in the UT policy, sources said while fixing the allotment rates for new projects, the highest land transactions registered with the sub-registrar are taken. “ In case of the proposed medicity, the highest land transactions in the recent past are being considered for various UT villages to fix the allotment rates. This means all villages are considered as one entity. But this formula does not for apply while handing down the land compensation,” said a revenue official.
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Prices of pulses continue to soar
Chandigarh, August 4
Price List Commodity Price (Rs/ kg) Chana dal Rs 39 Moong dhuli Rs 46 Maah sabut Rs 48 Rajmah Rs 56 Kabuli Chana Rs 56 Refined oil Rs 75 Desi ghee Rs 175 Sugar RS 19 - Rs 19.50 Despite good crop this year, the prices of most pulses continue to soar. A random survey of the market shows that most of the pulses have shown an increase of Rs 5-6 per kg in the past fortnight. Traders in the city say this is just the beginning and the prices of pulses are expected to rise further. “The price hike now is due to increase in fuel prices. But as the autumn approaches and supplies get restricted, the prices will increase further,” says D.M. Kapoor, partner of Purnima Stores, Sector 9. Other than pulses and legumes, prices of refined oil too have shown a hike of Rs 5 per litre. Though the price of mustard oil has remained stable at Rs 80 per litre, groundnut oil and soybean oil prices have continued to soar. Sugar, which had so far remained stable at Rs 18 a kg., has now increased to Rs 19-19.50 per kg. Desi ghee prices too have shown a jump of Rs 10 per kg. from Rs 165 a kg last month to Rs 175 a kg now. Vikas Kumar, proprietor Life Departmental Store, Panchkula, says, with the price of milk showing a rapid increase, its by-products like desi ghee, processed cheese and processed milk, too, have shown an increase. “It’s high time the government took strong measures to control prices. The common man now cannot afford to have two proper meals a day. For the lower middle class, more than 90 per cent of the income goes into ensuring that every family member gets two proper meals a day,” says Surinder Dhakla, a housewife.
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Mohali sanitation in state of neglect
Mohali, August 4 Forum president N.S. Gill has written letters to the estate officer, GMADA, and the executive officer of the council regarding the state of sanitation in the town and copies of the letters have also been sent to the deputy commissioner for information and necessary action. In the letter to the estate officer, Gill stated that vacant plots in the town were full of wild growth and as such had become garbage dumps. Even private safai karamcharis dumped garbage in these areas as a result of which these vacant plots had started to stink and had also become a breeding place for insects. Following the Chandigarh pattern, GMADA should ask plot owners to carry out construction in their plots. The forum president brought to the notice of the civic body that state of sanitation was poor in the town and if proper steps were not taken well in time the situation might lead to spread of various diseases in the form epidemic. He said though civic body had made claims that fogging machine was being used in the town, this had been done only twice since April. He added that last week “garden waste” was dumped near the boundary wall of the Government Senior Secondary School in Phase III B1, which had not been removed so far despite assurance by an official of the council. A case of dengue was reported from a house which was hardly located at a distance of about 200 yards from the point where the waste was dumped.
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Mohali gets Press Club
Mohali, August 4 Officer bearers of the club were elected unanimously by the gathering.
M.P. Kaushik was elected president while Kewal Singh Rana was made the chairman of the body. Other office bearers are: senior vice-presidents - Hillary Victor, Lakhwant Singh; vice-presidents - Daljeet Singh, Vishal
Shankar; general secretary - Darshan Singh Sodhi; secretary - Kulwinder
Basota; office secretary - Birinder Kaur; organising secretary - Veena
Rajput; joint secretaries - Jaswinder Singh Jassi, Jatinder Budhiraja; cashier - Pardeep Singh Happy; and advisers - Seetal Dass Katru and Rajiv
Vashisht.
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9-yr-old goes missing from Mansa Devi temple
Panchkula, August 4 Even a complaint was not lodged with the police in this regard till now as the father of the child was not at home since then and the mother also could not move out as she had gone through a delivery recently. The police came to know about the missing incident on Friday when the child’s father returned from Hardwar after getting ‘kanwar’, said the police. The search of the child has already been started after registering a case, said the police.
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Kishore Kumar remembered
Chandigarh, August 4 The annual event organised by the Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts (CIPA) and NZCC picked up melodic momentum after a mundane start. All male competitors in two age groups of 15-24 and 25 and above rendered film songs immortalised by Kishore Kumar while their female counterparts, placed only in one category, presented hit Asha Bhonsle numbers. Shashi Shekher provided the orchestral support. While rain interrupted at the fag end, the panel of judges led by principal Sunita Nain declared the following winners from various age groups. 15-24 years: Harjeet Singh (I) Iarsimranjit (II), Satvir Singh (III); 25 years and above: Dr Sayana Bhattacharya(I), Anil Kumar Tandon (II), Satish Madhok (III); female: Preetika Bhasin (I), Sunita Pundir (II), Madhu Chandel (III). Earlier, CIPA director Shyam Juneja welcomed the chief guest, V.K. Sood, who lauded the aesthetic genius of invincible Kishore Kumar, the winner of eight Filmfare Awards.
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Widen passage to Naina Devi shrine: Panel
Chandigarh, August 4 At a condolence meeting held here today, Anwarul Haq, the president of foundation expressing grief over the tragedy, said the Himachal government should increase the relief amount to Rs 5 lakh and widen the passage to shrine to avert any untoward incidents in the future. The meeting was attended by Raes Ahmed, Khalil Ahmed, Mohammad Quasim, Anis Bhai and Quari Sharafat also.
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Probe into ‘misconduct’ by DSP
Chandigarh, August 4 H.S. Doon, SP (traffic), said he had entrusted the inquiry to the DSP (traffic), J.S. Cheema, who would give his report in three days. Poonam Dilawari and Satbir Singh had presented their side of the incident. Doon said the SI had alleged that the DSP had used foul language against her. The incident took place in front of DSP (South) Jaswant Singh Khera and DSP (crime) K.I.P. Singh at the Sector 39 police station. The statement of both officials would be recorded to corroborate the sequence of event. The SP (traffic) said the probe should be conducted in a fair manner even if the issue was between a senior and a junior police officer.
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Girl rams car into bus, injured
Chandigarh, August 4 The victim has been identified as Shruti Raj, a daughter of a Jharkhand additional director general of police. Shruti, a graduate from Panjab University, was reportedly driving at a high speed when the incident occurred. She rammed her car (CH-04-A-3232) into the stationary CTU bus, near the bus stop in Sector 11. Ranbir Singh, the driver of the bus, told TNS that he was waiting for passengers to board the bus when the driver of the Honda city lost the control over the vehicle. It was leant that Shruti was using her mobile phone. The girl was rushed to hospital from where she was referred to the PGI. Her condition is still critical. The police has informed the family, who are on their way to Chandigarh. The car belongs to the owner of the MG Supermarket, Vinod Mittal. Vinod Mittal said, “The girl is a friend of my son. I have no business to ask my son regarding the identity of his friends and their background”.
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Failed in exam, youth hangs himself
Chandigarh, August 4 The deceased had failed in a compartment paper, following which he took the extreme step. According to the police, the 18-year-old youth was found hanging when his family members broke open the door of the room this evening. His mother was the first one to notice the man hanging, who immediately informed the other family members and the police.The body of the deceased has been shifted to Sector 16 hospital for post-mortem. In another incident, Paramjeet Singh allegedly consumed poison at his residence in Manimajra, here today. According to the police, 27-year-old man was under depression over prolong illness of his wife. The incident came to light when his wife saw him in an unconscious condition, who immediately informed the police. The victim was rushed to the PGI, where the doctors declared him brought dead.
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ewild wild
The average Internet user has little idea of the risks associated with using the Internet in cyber cafes and public WiFi hotspots. One can send emails and cruise the web and use Word and Excel, but one cannot really work his computer. The one thing the average user doesn’t know much about is security. One knows there are bad guys out there, and one knows that one should try to practise safe computing, but one doesn't know how. Moreover, there are hackers out to heck your computer. Recently, the email, sent by terrorists before their deadly attack in Ahmedabad was from the computer of an NRI in Mumbai. Police investigations revealed that the computer IP address had been hijacked by unscrupulous net savvy terrorist network. When it comes to web browsers at the coffee shop or Internet cafe, experts advice that one should not use Internet Explorer. For now, use IE 6 only if you are forced to. Internet Explorer (IE) is currently the most widely used web browser in the world. With the increasing use of computers for online banking, computer users in the country have become more vulnerable to sinister designs. It is a better idea to use Firefox or Safari instead. These are free, powerful, easy to use and safer than the Internet Explorer. Avoid sites in which you are viewing or entering user names, passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers and other sensitive data, unless those sites use https instead of http. If you have to log in, but the web page's URL begins with https, it’s using a technology called SSL, and it’s OK. If the URL begins with http be careful. If you are reading news or sports scores, don’t worry, but if you are working with sensitive data, do not view or enter information on those types of pages. You can check your email in two ways: using a web browser or using an email program running on your computer. There are companies that provide email primarily through web browsers like Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail, but most ISPs who allow people to download their email using programs also provide access to the same email using web browsers. Every web mail provides a secure (https) page for logging in to check email, but that's it. Your password will be safe, but not the emails. It’s ok to use a laptop in a coffee shop, but one has to take a bit of responsibility for that security. You will need to use common sense, change a few habits, and perhaps use some new software. Anti-virus
Some people or companies with malicious intentions write programs like computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses and
spyware. These programs are characterised as being unwanted software that install themselves on the computer through deception. Viruses slow down system performance and cause strange system behavior and in many cases do serious harm to computer. Worms are characterised as having the ability to replicate themselves and viruses are similar except that they achieve this by adding their code onto third party software. Once a virus or worm has infected a computer, it would typically infect Trojan horses are programs that conceal their true purpose or include a hidden functionality that a user would not
want. Spyware is a software that runs on a computer without the explicit permission of its user. It often gathers private information from a user's computer and sends the data over the Internet back to the software manufacturer. Similarly, Adware is a software that runs on a computer without the owner’s consent. It runs in the background and displays random or targeted pop-up advertisements. In many cases, this slows the computer and may also cause software conflicts. In order to prevent such damage, users install antivirus software. And never ever forget to delete cookies if you are using a public computer whether in a cyber café or in an institution. Many places do have arrangements to delete the cookies automatically once you stop using the computer, but why take chances? Before logging out, go to the Internet options or tools and select clear private data.
AnilM works as Editor with Instablogs.com Anilm@instablogs.com
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Letters
Chandigarh is turning its back on the poor, the hungry and the homeless. Parents and children are being put on the streets with no housing facilities, showing a flaw in the UT administration's new policies.
As Chandigarh doesn't have any special policy to combat homelessness, the number of people on the streets is growing at an alarming rate. Authorities would do well to realise that the problem can't be eradicated by denying services to the needy or by pushing others out of shelter with time-limited rental subsidies. Homelessness isn't just about housing. It's also about poverty and unemployment. Given the city’s resources and wealth, there can be a comprehensive, effective system to help the poorest segments of society. Both local and national governments need to work on this. Rajesh Krishan
Readers 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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Midday MealHygiene hardly matters Staff dig into their share while kids go hungry G.S. Paul Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 4 This is a common sight at so-called makeshift kitchens in some of the city schools where midday meals are prepared for the students of Classes I to VIII. The apathy doesn’t end here. While some of the school heads complain of getting “lesser” supplies, Class IV employees, who as per the guidelines of the nationwide midday scheme are not supposed to touch the meals, dig into their share shamelessly while the kids go hungry. A team from The Tribune carried out a survey of a number of city schools in morning and afternoon only to find that hygiene and nutrition were the last things on the minds of the higher school authorities and also those handling the meals. It’s sad but true that none of the schools visited by this correspondent had a semblance of cleanliness or hygiene. Even the elementary things like washing hands before serving and eating food aren’t cared for. While the situation was pathetic everywhere, it was the worst at Government Model Senior Secondary School-47. Incidentally, this kitchen was being operated by a Delhi-based private company, which was recently engaged by the administration to revamp the scheme. Cooks were smoking and chewing tobacco while preparing the meals. When questioned, their standard reply was: “Humme maloom nahi tha”. And when this was brought to the notice of school principal J.S. Basota, he showed concern, but by the time he reached there to check, the cooks acted smart and washed the area to remove the traces of their misdeed. However, Basota gave them a yelling and instantly drafted a written complaint to the DPI (schools). He also issued a notice to the contractor and sent it’s copy to the DEO office. At Government High School, Colony No. 4, teacher on duty Sapinder was least bothered to check the food which lay in open in containers without lids. To top it all, sweeper of the school Radha Devi, after finishing her job at toilets, straightway came and started pouring food for herself from the containers, least knowing that she was under a watch. When asked about the food, she replied: “Aaj to daal achhi hai, varna roz hi chole ki daal bhejte hain, jo hum ghar me bhi nahi khate” (Today, the daal seems to be good; otherwise they send the same channa dal, which we do not prefer to eat even at our homes). Sapinder did not feel like objecting to her conduct. When school head Ramesh Kumar was apprised of the situation, he immediately assured that he would ask for a written explanation. “This is really disgusting. I will issue a notice to her and ask for a written explanation,” he said. The head also told this correspondent that they were getting less supplies compared to the strength of the school. “In the morning shift, against 664 children (from Classes V to VIII), we get food for just 376 children. Again in afternoon shift, we get food for just 539 children whereas we have 973 children from Classes I to IV).” Perhaps, the school head forgot to include the Class IV employees, who also reserve their right to have food otherwise meant for children only.
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Fine Art result declared
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 4 Admission test
The department of Hindi is conducting a test for admission to Diploma in Translation (English to Hindi) for the session 2008-09 on August 7 at 9.00 a.m. The test would be conducted in the Class Room No.1, Arts Block-II, 1st Floor, Panjab University. Death condoled
Dr C.L. Narang, former director, NSS and Adult Continuing Education and Extension, Panjab University, expired early morning today. He was 65 years old and a well-known scholar of Punjabi literature and a social worker. He wrote a number of poetic plays in Punjabi. He had been suffering from cancer since the last few months. Dr Narang is survived by his wife and two daughters. The staff and employees of Adult Education Department condoled his death and two minutes silence was observed in the memory of departed soul.
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Student leaders elected
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 4 Teej competitions Ayushi of Class XI emerged winner in the mehndi competition while Akshita of Class XII won the rangoli competition during the teej celebrations held at P.M.L.S.D. Public School, Sector 32-C, today. The students of the primary wing of Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School celebrated the festival. Children enjoyed themselves thoroughly in the swings. Meanwhile, Divya Public School also celebrated Teej Utsav with great enthusiasm. Staff members organised mehandi competition. Installed The MCM DAV-36 college Rotaract club installed its new office today with Umang Sota as the president. The other office bearers included Ridhima - Vice President, Astha Sharma - Secretary, Guntas - Treasurer and Sana Arora - Public Relation Officer.
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CBSE Class XII compartment result out
Panchkula, August 4 According to a communiqué received from the CBSE here, the total number of candidates appeared were 9,381. The total pass percentage of various categories of schools in this region were; KVS (68.4 per cent); JNV (43.6 per cent); government schools (69.6 per cent); independent schools (57.6 per cent) and overall (57.5 per cent). According to joint director, regional office, Panchkula, D.R. Yadav, all the schools located in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali can collect their results and mark sheets from the CBSE regional office, Sector 5. However, the mark sheets and result sheets of the schools located other than in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali will be dispatched by speed post.
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Samwarthak new DPI (S)
Chandigarh, August 4
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Depinder Case to Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 4 Depinder had filed a habeas corpus petition seeking release of her 10-month-old child from the custody of her in-laws. Arguing the case, the defense counsel alleged that Depinder had deserted the child and left for Canada on the basis of which a case was registered against her on July 4. Talking to the TNS, the counsel for the petitioner Sanjiv Sharma said, “The child is a Canadian citizen and if the grandparents want the custody of the child, they should approach the Canadian high commission.” Depinder got married to Jatinder Singh Aulakh in November 2006 and had a son, Aviraj, on September 2007, who was born in Quebec, Canada. On March 30 this year, Jatinder died in an accident and Depinder came here to attend his last rites. It is alleged that on June 22, a day before Depinder was to fly back to Canada along with her son, she was asked to leave behind the child with the grandparents and to proceed alone.
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