Ludhiana, May 11
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the Rajiv-Longowal Accord, signed by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sant Harchand Singh Longowal in 1985, is still relevant and not a “dead issue”. “Though a lot of water has flown down the Sutlej since the signing of the accord, since it was passed by Parliament, we stand by it,” he said at a media interaction here today.

Dr Manmohan Singh said since the accord had been passed by Parliament, it held good and couldn’t be called a “something in the past”. The accord pertains to the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, sharing of river waters, compensation to those killed in Punjab’s era of militancy, an inquiry into November 1984 riots, etc.

In a subsequent question about “justice eluding the 1984 riot victims”, the Prime Minister said the riot victims had received enhanced compensation and other benefits. “But the issue cannot be kept alive forever. Certain people want to keep the 1984 anti-Sikh riot issue alive just for apnee dukaan chamkane ke liye (for their selfish interests),” he said, holding that the issue is raked only at the time of the elections. It did not benefit the country or the Sikh community.

The Prime Minister came down heavily on those who, he said, were misusing him being a Sikh to garner votes by playing the “Sikh card”. “I am an Indian first and a Sikh later. And let me tell you that I have not authorised anyone to use my name and seek votes projecting me as the first and the only Sikh Prime Minister”. Interestingly, two days ago Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had sought votes here terming the polls as an “election of the Sikhs for a Sikh Prime Minister”.

Talking of various other issues pertaining to the Sikhs, Dr Manmohan Singh said his government had already taken up the issued of Sikhs being persecuted in Afghanistan and Pakistan with the respective governments. “We are very concerned about reports of houses of Sikhs being destroyed on account of failure to pay jazia, etc”.

Even about the Sikh turban issue in France, he said though nothing positive had emerged, the Indian government and he personally had already taken up the issue with the French President and the Prime Minister. “I am hopeful that the matter will be resolved soon”.

With regard to the UPA vision on Punjab, the Prime Minister said Rs 5,000 crore had already been sanctioned for the state which included development projects in Ludhiana and Amritsar. He said Rs 2,000 crore had been sanctioned for the coming international airport at Mohali another Rs 100 crore for Punjab Agricultural University and several other projects had been approved for Punjab by the UPA, but the SAD government was trying to take credit for them.

Emphasising India’s “zero tolerance policy on terrorism”, he said no compromise would be made on any issue of national interest. The government was watching developments in Pakistan and Nepal. As regards Nepal, he said the political crisis was the countries internal problem and India did not see any role in its resolution.

The Prime Minister when asked if he would like to respond to Bollywood number “Singh is King” which is being used as a poll slogan and if he already felt like a “King” (as a continuing Prime Minister) he said: “Only time will tell. Let the number on May 16 say what they have in store”.

Dr Manmohan Singh in his parting shot said: “Vote for my friend Manish Tewari because you will then be voting for me”.

Khadoor Sahib/Amritsar, May 11
After Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi hailed him as “pride of India”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blasted the SAD- BJP combine for its non-performance as well as its “wrongful propaganda” by which it has been claiming credit for works done by the Congress-led UPA government.

Addressing rallies in Amritsar and Khadoor Sahib in support of Om Parkash Soni and Rana Gurjit Singh, the Prime Minister said the Congress government remained committed to the service of the country and took some historic decisions in the interest of public welfare.

Dr Manmohan Singh had earlier visited Jalalabad and addressed an election rally in favour of Jagmeet Singh Brar.

Dr Singh tried to strike a personal chord with holy city of Amritsar by stating that he had been brought up and educated in the city after migrating from Pakistan during Partition. With the support of the people, he succeeded in launching various new schemes for the development of villages, improving infrastructure education and health services. He said that common people were the central point of these achievements.

In Khadoor Sahib, he promised to solve various problems, including infrastructure development, unemployment and drug addiction that are facing the border districts of the state. Earlier Rana Gurjit Singh submitted a memorandum to him highlighting the grievances of the people of the border belt.

“We perform and both BJP and Akalis claim credit for it. They resort to wrong propaganda by issuing huge advertisements. It is the Congress, which raised the minimum support price for agricultural produce, started new universities, Amritsar and Bathinda, and built new airports, Amritsar and Mohali. We have introduced guaranteed employment scheme besides raising our budget on school education.

“Advertisements of both BJP and Akalis have been claiming credit for all these achievements of the Congress,” the Prime Minister said.

Dr Manmohan Singh attempted to establish a direct rapport with the rural population by saying that in five years of the Congress rule, farmers benefited by more than Rs 20,0000 crore because of an increase in procurement prices as well control on the prices of fertilisers. Negating the criticism by the BJP and Akalis on loan waivers, Dr Manmohan Singh reiterated that more than 4.2 lakh families of farmers had been cleared of farm loans of more than Rs 1,200 crore. On the other hand, the BJP-led NDA watched the plight of farmers as a “tamasha”.

Rahul, who addressed the Amritsar rally, criticized the NDA as well as the BJP and Akalis for their non-performance.

Rahul said the NDA during the last Lok Sabha elections had given the slogan of “India Shining” that was only meant for the rich. “But, they failed to visit the houses of the poor, farmers and Dalits”, he added. The poor gave a befitting reply by rejecting their slogan and voting in favor of the Congress-led UPA.

Referring to the statement of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi about interlinking the rivers, Capt Amarinder Singh condemned the SAD for its dual policies, which were harming the interests of Punjab.

Majitha (Amritsar), May 11
NDA’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani said the SAD had been an unflinching partner of the BJP since its inception in its first ‘avatar’ as the Jan Sangh.

Addressing his first poll rally in the border region here today, Advani sought support from electors in favour of BJP candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal could not make it to the rally for their plane developed a technical snag.

Advani said the SAD was a trusted and tested ally of the BJP and recalled that the Jan Sangh had first alliance with the Akali Dal when Justice Gurnam Singh became the first Chief Minister of the coalition government in Punjab.

Praising Chief Minister Badal, he said no other leader had remained in jail longer than Badal in independent India.

Commenting on Taliban levying “jazia” on Sikh families residing in tribal regions of Pakistan, he said it was disturbing and unbearable development. He said in case the NDA government came to power, the government would act decisively in the matter.

Advani congratulated the public for India becoming a nuclear power on this day when the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had conducted tests at Pokharan (Rajasthan).

Advani said he had participated in rallies in 130 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country, but the enthusiasm and zeal seen here was incomparable.

Referring to yesterday’s Ludhiana rally where leaders from all constituents of the NDA took part, he said the BJP always supported its partners through thick and thin and received the same treatment from its allies. He said in comparison, the UPA was a house divided.

Navjot said if the NDA government came to power he would ensure development funds of Rs 50 lakh to each village of the Amritsar parliamentary constituency and the revival of the sick industry. He said he would bid farewell to politics if he failed to fulfil the promises within a year.

Amritsar, May 11
NDA’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani’s action of taking out a sword from the sheath in the information office of the Golden Temple here today annoyed SGPC president Avtar Singh.

Advani, who visited the Golden Temple after an election rally, was presented with a siropa and a kirpan (sword) by manager of Darbar Sahib Harbhajan Singh, secretary Dalmegh Singh and other senior officials of the committee. This was for the first time that any dignitary took the sword out of the sheath in the Golden Temple complex.

Advani was accompanied by Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and former Akali minister Bikram Singh Majithia.

Reacting to the action of Advani, Avtar Singh said: “Advani should not have done it since it was not a political rally”.

Meanwhile, Advani partook of langar as a common devotee.

Advani also visited Durgiana Temple where the head priest and office-bearers of the Management Committee honoured him with a siropa.

He also visited Chheharta town to mourn the death of veteran CPI leader Vimla Dang.

Amritsar, May 11
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna here today said the BJP-led NDA did little for the Sikhs.

Sarna said the Congress-led UPA government had provided large funds for celebrations of tercentenary of Guru Granth Sahib at Hazur Sahib Nanded. He said the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had given only Rs 100 crore.

Sarna said the project of Khalsa Heritage at Anandpur Sahib to commemorate the fourth centenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth remained incomplete.

The BJP and the Akali Dal had failed to live up to the aspirations of people and played up inconsequential issues to entice voters.

The DSGMC chief said voters were aware of murky dealing of the political parties and knew their rights. He said political parties could not deceive the voters.

Gurdaspur, May 11
Campaigning for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat ended this evening.

National BJP chief Rajnath Singh addressed a rally in Batala seeking votes for Vinod Khanna today, while Congress candidate Pratap Singh Bajwa addressed a rally organised by Gurmeet Singh Pahra, SAD leader who had recently joined the Congress at Pahra village.

Sleeping barely for a few hours, the two have been on the move for most part of the day. At Batala, Bajwa addressed voters at Marhiawala at 1 am yesterday. It was his 16th stop of the day after which he had dinner at a councillor’s house. “It is exhausting, but I am addressing over 10,000 people every day,” he says.

Clad in white kurta pyjamas and pink or orange turban, Bajwa says he spends a few minutes before mirror every morning. “The past few days have been ending at 2 or even 3 in the morning and starting again at 6 am with party workers waiting for the day’s schedule. The meetings are to motivate and coordinate,” he says.

Things are equally hectic in Vinod Khanna’s camp. Unlike Bajwa, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election for the first time, Khanna, having been through it three times, appears relaxed. “The response of people who I address energises me. Their reactions are encouraging,” he says.

Khanna, accompanied by son Akshay, met supporters in Pathankot last evening. “People love and repose trust in you. This reaffirms my resolve to work for them,” he adds.

Wearing jeans and cotton shirts and T-shirts in the campaign, Khanna prefers comfort to star status. “I don’t get a bad throat addressing people as I throw my voice judging microphone’s quality,” he says.

The aim is to strike a chord with voters and be able to meet the largest possible number of them in a single day before the elections.

Hoshiarpur (OC): Addressing a rally in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance candidate from here Som Parkash to wrap up his election campaign on the last day of campaigning on Monday, BJP president Rajnath Singh claimed that the NDA had become stronger after its formation in 2004. Only the Janta Dal (Biju) had left it, whereas five parties of the South recently joined the alliance. After the fourth phase of the elections, there were indications of the NDA taking lead.

Rajnath, along with Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, was scheduled to arrive here at 10.30 am for addressing the rally. But he was late by four hours, whereas Sukhbir could not make it to the rally due to his busy schedule.

He said if the NDA came back into power, it would bring back black money of about Rs 25 lakh crore lying in the banks of various foreign countries to boost the Indian economy.

Referring to SAD-BJP candidate Som Parkash, he said he was an experienced person in administrative matters and had been Deputy Commissioner of Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar.

Minister Tikshan Sood, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mohinder Kaur Josh, Des Raj Dhugga and Arunesh Shakar, MLA Amarjit Singh Sahi, Rajya Sabha MP Varinder Singh Bajwa and Punjab BJP chief Rajinder Bhandari were prominent among the leaders who addressed the rally.

Anandur Sahib, May 11
Former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s grandson Ravneet Singh Bittu came here with little but family’s legacy and Rahul Gandhi’s support. On the eve of election, he is satisfied having consolidated party cadre in the constituency as well as the voters who are enthused at the “vote for Manmohan” slogan and leadership of Amarinder Singh.

The vote for Dr Manmohan Singh could be crucial for Bittu in Mohali where educated Sikhs and youth have swayed to the Congress. In the villages, it is an equal fight where Beant Singh legacy as well as Amarinder’s leadership is loaded against SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

A tour of the constituency today also revealed the BJP has lost ground and that substantial part of this vote could go to the Congress. Though the alleged short shrift given to BJP MP Avinash Rai Khanna who also wanted to contest this seat could be responsible for this shift, sources said this was also in line with pro -Congress sentiment which had gained ground in urban areas in the state.

“This is the first time the party has been able to hold its own in Jat Sikh dominated villages”, says Nangal legislator Rana K P Singh. He said this was mainly due to personality clash between Amarinder and Sukhbir, which had enabled the party to get a foothold in rural areas.

Numbardar Ram Prakash of Sukhsal village in Nangal constituency says the area consisting of Brahman and Rajput voters is securely behind the Congress. He says development, including transforming the village into a model village, is responsible for this. In other areas like Mohali, Balachaur and Bet area the support given to the Congress by former Bharatiya Samaj Morcha MP Satnam Singh Kainth has also helped the party. The followers of Dera Sacha Sauda could also benefit the candidate of the Congress party as per the trend witnessed in the first phase on May 7.

Daljit Cheema is putting up a fight based on the party’s popularity in Anandpur Sahib and Garhshankar Assembly segments. He is known to be an organisational man who has helped all and sundry while serving as adviser to the Chief Minister and has won over many with his polite and respectful manner. Cheema was able to steal a march over his rival earlier because senior leaders were earlier expecting Union Minister Ambika Soni to be the party’s candidate from the seat and Bittu’s candidature came as a surprise to many.

The seat could well be decided in areas like Mohali and the small towns in the constituency rather in rural countryside. How these areas vote finally could determine the fate for both ‘outsiders’ in Anandpur Sahib.

Faridkot, May 11
Banking on the huge vote bank of youth, 32-year old Sukhwinder Singh Danny, handpicked by Rahul Gandhi from his youth brigade, fighting his first electoral battle from the Faridkot constituency has promised to increase job avenues, launch social awareness drive against drug addiction, improve basic amenities of sanitation, provide clean potable water and improve health services in the constituency.

Convent educated Danny, who has done MA in political science and business administration, said unemployment was one of the biggest problems haunting the region.

Adding that industries were already leaving the state due to the flawed policies of the state government, he said if elected to the Lok Sabha he would press upon the Union government to provide special incentives to attract investments in the border state, which would help in providing jobs to youths.

The Youth Congress leader said drug addiction was another big problem that had ruined the lives of thousands of youths resulting in a social stigma on their families and it was the need of the hour to launch an awareness drive among the youth against drug-addiction.

Danny further said he would work for improving the health status of people. “During campaigning, I have come to know that cancer and hepatitis diseases are claiming many lives every year,” he added.

Danny had made his first entry into the electoral politics fighting these elections. A good orator, he touches the sentiments of people in a typical Punjabi language. He belongs to a family of politicians. His father Sardul Singh was a minister in the Congress government from 2002 to 2007 and his maternal grandfather Gurmej Singh was also a minister in the Congress governments from 1972 to 1977 and 1992 to 1997.

Throughout his campaign, he has demanded votes on the name of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh playing the Sikh card.

Faridkot, May 11
Eying the women vote bank, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, SAD candidate contesting from Faridkot (reserved) Lok Sabha seat, has promised to uplift the status of women in rural areas by raising the standards in educational institutes and strengthening women self-help groups, besides launching a drive against female foeticide and improving the health condition of the fair sex.

There are 6,12,504 women voters out of the total vote bank of 12,82,885 in the constituency, which comes to 47.74 per cent. Although there are four other women candidates Kaushalya Chaman Bhaura (CPI), Raj Kaur (All-India Dalit Welfare Party), Sharan Kaur and Veerpal Kaur (both independents), she hopes to get maximum share from this vote bank.

She said 33 per cent reservation of women in Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies had helped in empowerment of women, still there was a lot to do on this front if one looked at the freedom and empowerment of women in developed countries.

Earlier this week at a rally, Gulshan pointing towards Manpreet Badal, Finance Minister of Punjab, said, “My younger brother is with me and he will provide all possible financial help for you”. Manpreet is the election in charge of the party in this constituency.

With regard to the growing atrocities on women in the state, Gulshan was of the view that society needs to be sensitised towards the fair sex and for this purpose she would come out with a proposal to strengthen the Social Welfare Department.

On improving the health status of women, she said there were many schemes of the government that needed to be implemented. “I will personally monitor all these schemes”, she said.

Mohali, May 11
Prabhjot Kaur Mangat of Fatehgarh Sahib district has stood first in the middle standard examination of the Punjab School Education Board, result of which was declared here today. A student of Guru Nanak Public Senior Secondary School, Khant Maanpur, she got the top position by getting 773 marks out of 800. Jeenu Grover of MSD Senior Secondary Public School, Bathinda, who secured 765 marks was declared second. The third position went to Amit Ranjan of Springdales Public Senior Secondary School, Sangrur, getting 764 marks.

Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon, chairman of the board, said here the general pass percentage in the examination was 63.75. Pass percentage in the case of regular candidates was 65.11 and 57.49 in the case of students who appeared as private. Pass percentage of students who appeared through the Open School was 49.72.

The chairman added that all facilities the modern technology could provide were extended to the students. Detailed result, merit list and pass percentage of school/private candidates could be had from the board’s website www.pseb.ac.in at midnight between May 12 and 13. The board was also providing the detailed result via e-mail. To avail this facility, a student had to register himself on the website.

The result would be available to public in the board’s regional offices at district and tehsil headquarters on May 12 at 4 pm. The result gazette of Tarn Taran would be available at regional office, Patti, and that of Barnala district at Kendriya Vidyalaya Mandir, Barnala.

Anjali Singh Deswal adds from Bathinda: Geenu’s father Shyam Lal Grover is patwari in Bathinda and the family stays at Goniana Mandi. Geenu wants to be an IAS officer. “It is a dream to join the Indian Administrative Service and I am confident of cracking it,” Geenu said.

His father gave credit to Geenu’s mother Kulwant Grover. “My wife is an MA, BEd and she teaches Geenu. I only support family financially. I have two grown-up daughters and they have done graduation. They also assist Geenu in his studies. He has never gone for tuitions. I am very proud of him”. Deepali Goyal, another Class VIII student from MSD Sr Sec School, has stood 12th in Class VIII board.

Khadoor Sahib, May 11
Candidates of major political parties in the fray from here have promised the moon to voters in electioneering.

However, a tour of areas of this constituency and talking to people revealed that their day-to-day problems were big issues for them.

For Deepak, owner of tea shop on the Makhu-Moga road in Zira Assembly constituency of Ferozepur district, late supply of LPG cylinders was a big issue. One may easily get LPG cylinder on the black market anytime, but otherwise it takes at least a fortnight for delivery, he says.

Deepak adds that no bus stand has been constructed in Makhu and people wait in the open for buses.

Former panch of border Ghazal village in Tarn Taran district, Mukhtiar Singh rues “pucci phirni” has not been constructed in their village even after six decades of Independence.

Even cremation ground is in “kachi” land and villagers can not cremate the dead when it rains as there is no shed.

No water resevoir has been built at Ghazal village though there are two panchayats here, whereas nearby Rattoke village has a proper water tank, another villager Gurcharan Singh says.

Avtar Singh says government bus service from Khemkaran to Patti via Ghazal village should be started at the earliest.

Most of the voters do not know about manifestos released by different political parties. Gulzar Singh of Bhangala village and Daljit Singh of Ramuwal village in Tarn Taran district say they do not know anything about manifestos.

Common people do not disclose which candidate they will vote. Most of them say the contest is between Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala of the SAD and Rana Gurjit Singh of the Congress and both appear to have equal prospects.

To who do you want to see next PM, Manmohan Singh, LK Advani or someone else, most of them say they want to see Manmohan Singh as PM again.

Sangrur, May 11
Local residents, including traders, advocates, municipal councilors, senior citizens and members of political parties, on Sunday evening started a dharna in front of the police station here in protest against bringing senior citizen Pawan Kumar Mangla to the police station by cops. They raised slogans against the police and demanded the registration of a case against Sub Inspector (SI) Darshan Singh for allegedly snatching mobile phone from Mangla and keeping him in illegal custody, besides misbehaving with him.

Former chairman, Sangrur Improvement Trust, Satish Kansal said Mangla, who is also a member of sub-divisional grievances committee, had not committed any crime as he had only made a phone call to the police to inform it that there might be fighting between two groups over the installation of a mobile phone tower in the local Krishna Basti.

He said the police in place of nabbing the parties concerned, took Mangla in custody and misbehaved with him.

Gurtej Singh Grewal, president, District Bar Association, said the protesters demanded suspension of the SI, besides sending him to the Police Lines. In the dharna, president of the local municipal council Harbans Lal also participated.

Local Tehsildar Jaspal Kaur also visited the police station, but the matter could not be resolved.

Patiala, May 11
The Sikh Nation Organisation (SNO) has demanded Vatican-like status for Nankana Sahib and Amritsar in the wake of mass exodus of Sikhs as a result of Taliban persecution in Pakistan, to provide safety and effective Sikh voice and to raise such issues promptly in the United Nations.

A protest demonstration to highlight the issue was held here yesterday in front of Gurdwara Hoti Mardan prior to the visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to the holy city of Amritsar on Monday. Pakistan-born Sikhs, now settled in Patiala after migrating during partition, came to tears while sharing the agony of their brethren left in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Sikh body has petitioned the United Nations’ Human Rights Council for immediate action to end persecution of Sikhs by Taliban in Swat Valley, by invoking special procedure of the UN Council to deal with the situations of grave and continued human right violations in countries signatory to UN conventions.

It argued that the action of the Pakistan government warranted immediate UN intervention.

Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, president of the Sikh body, said in an appeal for urgent action under special procedure, the UN’s immediate intervention had been sought to save lives, property and shrines and to ensure religious freedom of minority Sikh and Hindu communities in Swat Valley and North West Frontier Province in Pakistan.

He added that through its ill-conceived action, the government of Pakistan had given autonomy and transferred administrative control of the region to Taliban extremists, under the pretext of restoring peace in the region. Giving general amnesty for all crimes committed, all types of pending investigation, legal proceedings and any penalty, forfeiture or punishments pronounced had been repealed, he said.

The Sikh body brought to the notice of the UN Human Rights Council that besides retrograde ways of punishment and honour-killings which are in contravention to Human Rights declaration and UN conventions, there are serious cultural restrictions involved under Taliban rule and the law of ‘Shariah’, including honour killings of women, restrictions on education of girls and employment of women, disallowing women to step out of their homes unescorted by male relatives etc.

Patiala, May 11
Punjab is no longer in the grip of power crisis, thanks to comfortable power availability in the state. No power cuts have been imposed so far due to sufficient availability.

Sources in the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) here today said thermal plants of the PSEB were running to the full capacity. Even though there had been substantial increase of 97 lakh units in demand of power yesterday as compared to the same day last year, more availability of power enabled the board to provide uninterrupted power supply to its consumers.

Power supply yesterday had increased by 96 lakh units from 1,022 lakh units last year to 1,118 lakh units this year (96 LUs from own hydel plants, 565 LUs from own thermal plants, 101 LUs from BBMB, 346 LUs from central sector projects, 10 LUs from non-renewable energy sources).

Incidentally, the board had last week relaxed power supply restrictions on certain categories of consumers. The board last week also withdrew the second weekly off on induction furnaces and rolling mills and average 13 hours supply was given to agricultural consumers in night group and 11.5 hours in day group to help them irrigate sunflower crop and preparing land for sowing of cotton seeds.

If the board authorities are to be believed, sufficient power will be made available for the paddy and electricity consumers of Punjab.

Chandigarh, May 11
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled loss caused to the government due to negligence or breach of orders by an employee can be recovered from his pay. But opportunity to represent has to be given to the employee.

The ruling by Justice MM Kumar comes on a petition filed by Jagdish Rai. Employed as a driver with the state, Rai had sought the quashing of an order dated November 26, 1998, whereby Rs 83,200 was ordered to be deducted from his salary after he was found negligent in driving the state department vehicle.

On October 4, 1991, he was coming from Fazilka to Ferozepur in a jeep, when a constable died in an accident. Rai was acquitted in the trial, but the constable’s legal heirs were awarded Rs 2,49,600.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the state had been exempted from the provisions of insuring against third party risk, but it cast statutory obligation to create a specific fund for making payment to the victims.

Justice Kumar ruled: Recovery from the pay of an employee, of the whole or part of any pecuniary loss caused to the government by negligence or breach of orders, is one of the minor penalties which could be imposed by the competent authority”.

“The procedure for imposing such minor penalties is provided by rule 10 of the Punjab Civil

Service (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970, which in terms lays down that no order imposing any of the penalties specified in rule 5 (i) to (iv) could be passed except after informing the employee concerned of the proposal to take action against him and giving him a reasonable opportunity of making representation.

“It is only then that the appropriate government could award the punishment after recording a finding. The procedure in the present case admittedly has not been followed.

Therefore, I am of the considered view that order dated November 26, 1998, is liable to be set aside”.

Allowing the petition, Justice Kumar quashed the order, but gave the respondents the liberty to proceed in accordance with law before passing a fresh order.