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SGPC takes possession of land near Saragarhi Gurdwara
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‘Murder of Congressman by Akali MLA’ Bajwa seeks Sonia’s intervention Gurdaspur, June 12 The issue of the murder of Congressman Balwinder Singh of this district, allegedly by local SAD MLA Gurbachan Singh Babbehali, his son Amarjot Singh, a police functionary, along with others, yesterday, has taken a new turn here today.
Bihar’s call to free bonded labour in Punjab
Ragging Incident in Engg College
Capt raps move to revive Legislative Council
Do not betray your state, CM to Bansal
Nurmahal By-election
Security complex, nightmare for inmates
Honour Killing
‘Panchayats can prohibit sale of liquor’
Fee-Waiver Scheme
Sr docs against re-employment of ex-colleagues
Flood control rooms for Ropar
Akali MLA suspected with swine flu
Ultrasound machines sealed
PSEB levies peak-load charges
Estate officers appointed
High Court
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SGPC takes possession of land near Saragarhi Gurdwara
Amritsar, June 12 Secretary SGPC Dalmegh Singh, who took a keen interest in getting the possession, reached the place along with the task force in strength in the wee hours. Earlier, the SGPC under the stewardship of its President Avtar Singh launched an intensive anti-encroachment drive and got the possession of SGPC lands in a number of districts in the state. He himself visited the spot to oversee the taking over of the possession. He said a serai would be constructed at the place for the convenience of pilgrims, as the under-construction multi-storey parking was located just opposite. Dalmegh Singh said the SGPC had launched anti-encroachment drive to decongest the premises of the Golden Temple being visited by thousands of devotees and pilgrims daily. He said all shopkeepers had been asked to keep their items inside the limit of their shops and not display these outside their shops for hassle-free flow of devotees. “The court of SDM Sandeep Rishi announced the decision in the case between the SGPC versus Suraj Transport Company, following filing of an execution by the SGPC on April 15,” said General-Attorney of the SGPC Ravinderjit Singh. He said the court fixed the next date of hearing for the report of possession on June 17. He said the owners had not deposited the monthly rent of Rs 650 after 2003. The counsel said the tenant of the shop had lost the case in 2005, but the possession was acquired today. He had been paying monthly rent of Rs 8. Earlier, the SGPC had filed a petition under Sections 3, 5 and 6, Punjab Religious and Land (eviction and rent recovery) Act, 1997, in the court of the subdivisional magistrate. The local court in its order dated July 29, 2005, had decided that the respondent (private transport company) did not review its contract and it also failed to pay regularly the rent of the premises. Therefore, the occupant of the respondent over the said land became illegal and
unauthorised.
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‘Murder of Congressman by Akali MLA’
Gurdaspur, June 12 While Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa today said he would urge Sonia Gandhi to ask the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to “direct” Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to stop this kind of state-sponsored terrorism immediately or else face the consequences. Babbehali, while denying the allegations, accused Bajwa of playing dirty games to malign his image as he had polled about 8,500 less votes in the Gurdaspur Assembly segment represented by him in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. Addressing mediapersons here, Bajwa said top police officials of the district were trying to save Babbehali, his son, a Station House Officer (SHO), a rank officer and a few others involved in the murder of his supporter Balwinder Singh, by not registering an FIR against the real culprits to “save” their own “prized postings”. On the other hand, IPS Sahota, Inspector-General, Punjab police, said the complaint lodged by Gurmeet Singh, father of deceased Balwinder Singh against MLA Babbehali and others had been incorporated with the original FIR, which had been registered on the statement of a police official under Section 302, IPC. He added that nobody was above the law and hence, action would be taken as per the outcome of the investigation of complaint lodged against Babbehali. The body of Balwinder Singh, a 27-year-old youth, was found lying on the bank of a drain passing near Parha village of this district. Gurmeet Singh, father of the deceased, in a written complaint lodged with the police, has alleged that Babbehali, his son, an Akali MLA, a police official and a few others had murdered his son. Gurmeet Singh alleged that Balwinder was taken to the house of Akali MLA Babbehali at Babbehali village two days ago and six to seven persons mercilessly tortured him. When Balwinder died due to the brutal torture, his body was thrown near a drain. He said earlier Akali leaders and workers had murdered about 48 Congressmen in the past two and half years. Immediately after the Lok Sabha elections, terror had again been unleashed on Congress workers by the Akalis.
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Cross border cultivation, bane for state farmers
Roranwala Khurd (Indo-Pak border), June 12 A resident of Roranwala Khurd, Baldev Singh, said that BSF was not opening the gates for the days together and that they were not able to work in their fields across the fence to plant the paddy. He said before the planting of paddy, it was necessary to irrigate their farms to make the soil soft. But, as they could visit their farms once in four days the tubewell installed there could not irrigate their farms within five to six hours for which they
were allowed to remain across the fence. He said they had met the BSF Commander in this regard, who had assured that he would pass necessary directions to the jawans posted near the gate. However, the jawans of the new unit posted at the gates were not allowing them to visit their fields asking them to
get their identity cards renewed. Another farmer, Jaswant Singh, who has about 10 acres of land across the fence, said during the harvesting of the crops, the BSF jawans ask to bring in two tractor trolleys. They said the state government should take up the matter with the authorities concerned, so that they could cultivate their fields and plant paddy. He said it should also take up the matter of providing compensation to the farmers, whose agricultural land was situated across the fence.
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Bihar’s call to free bonded labour in Punjab
Ludhiana, June 12 The appeal issued jointly in selected newspapers by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Minister for Labour Avdesh Narayan Singh has asked migrant labourers to approach a special office in Bihar Bhawan in New Delhi, in case “they are being used as forced or bonded labour, anywhere in the country”. The government has assured personal intervention in getting them freed and transporting them back home on government expenditure. Special offices have also been set up in Patna. The state government has already recorded a very good response to job options for migrant labourers back home under different projects of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). For labourers, jobs in Bihar have had a definite impact on the farming industry in the state. General-secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Raghunath said, “The Bihar government’s move is a very appreciable step. It is strange that the states, where these unfair labour practices continue unabated, seem not bothered at all. We have highlighted the issue several times. However, there has been very poor action on ground”. “In case of the poor response to the state call for the bonded labour, because of obvious fear of oppression, the state will have to devise an alternate way to reach them," he added. A farmer from Dholewal village, Charan Singh, said, “The workforce in entire Punjab is witnessing a sea change, these days. The biggest factor is probably the NREGA scheme, which has opened big job opportunities for them back home.” A migrant labour, Sahib Singh, said, “There is no need to panic. The call from the Bihar government will not affect the normal workforce on the fields and even in the industry. This is a message only for the suppressed class, which has been forced to remain silent. I have certain apprehensions regarding the ground impact of the scheme because it is not easy for the troubled labourers to come forward. Certain innovations might be needed to have better results for the government move”.
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Ragging Incident in Engg College
Malout (Muktsar), June 12 On one hand, the college authorities today refuted the allegations and termed it as a “well-planned conspiracy”, but on the other hand authorities of the Punjab Technical University (PTU) have expressed displeasure over repeated allegations of ragging in the college. After receiving the complaint from three victims, Anand Mohan Day, Akhil Sharma and Tarun Shukla, registrar of the PTU Sarojini Gautam Sharda, last month in a letter to the principal of the college, lashed out at the authorities for ignoring a direction for filing a time framed reply to a previous incident of ragging. As per the procured copy of the affidavit filed by the complainants, college authorities are accused for being callous in taking any action against the seven accused who ragged them. Forwarding the copy of the complaint to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, the complainants alleged that the seniors brutally treated them, stole their gadgets and money from their hostel room. “At that time, the college authorities recovered
drugs from their possession but took no action,” they alleged. In the recent statement, the complaining students alleged to escape from the college complex in a van of the canteen contractor and reach their homes as the college authorities “failed” to come to their rescue. On the other side, the college authorities refuted all the allegations. They are just trying to get mileage from the alleged ragging of a student Shailendra, whom we refunded the college fee to save the prestige of the college. But this time we are legally sound, so we will not return a single penny to these fake complainants, he said. Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, Rajat Aggarwal, who had visited the hostel of the college late last night, held interaction with the students. He said, “In the prima facie investigation, we could not get any complaint of ragging from any student. We are acting upon zero-tolerance policy. The college authorities have provided us documents in their favour but till the complainant do not join the investigation, we can not declare any one guilty.” “The complainants have already got an FIR registered at Kanpur, from where one of them belongs to, so there is no requirement
to launch a parallel inquiry,” he added.
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Capt raps move to revive Legislative Council
Chandigarh, June 12 He alleged that this was clearly being done to bring in Sukhbir Badal into the legislature through the backdoor as he was afraid of facing people in direct elections. In a statement issued here today, the former Chief Minister said the issue was raised earlier also, but shelved because of the financial constraints. He pointed out that the financial position of the state was no better now. “But Badal seems to be too keen to revive the Legislative Council so that his son becomes an MLC and is saved from the embarrassment of resigning from his job within six months and going to the people,” Capt Amarinder Singh said. He said the Badals had a reason to worry and get scared as the people in the recently concluded parliamentary elections had rejected them.
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Do not betray your state, CM to Bansal
Chandigarh, June 12 Badal was reacting to Bansal’s statement in the press today, which quoted him as opposing the merger of the capital state of Chandigarh with Punjab. The Chief Minister said it was amazing that Bansal had chosen the land of his birth, his village, to make this pronouncement of disloyalty to the soil that bred him. “I can only advise him to be more fair, careful and statesmanlike in the future,” he added.
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Nurmahal By-election
Jalandhar, June 12 The commission said it would stop the polling and defer the election in case the “outside” SAD MLAs did not leave the constituency. The Congress had complained to the EC as some Akali MLAs were moving about in various parts of the constituency. The district administration had yesterday issued orders asking all “outsiders” to leave the constituency immediately. However, defying the orders, some Akali MLAs had reached Nurmahal and other parts where the polling was going on. According to sources, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was also asked to direct the MLAs to leave the constituency. On the other hand, some senior SAD leaders urged the authorities to remove the “outsider Congress leaders”. They alleged that some senior Congress leaders were camping in the constituency to influence voters in support of their party candidate. The district administration has directed the police to ask all outsiders, irrespective of their party affiliations, to leave the constituency. Polling for the by-poll was to be held on May 28. However, it was postponed due to some unavoidable reasons.
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Security complex, nightmare for inmates
Ludhiana, June 12 For more than a month the ‘social security complex’ here, which houses an observation home for delinquent children and a state after-care home for the destitute, has no supply of water. Over 55 inmates of the home are without water in this unbearable heat but it seems to have made no difference to the Public Works Department (PWD). The inmates have not had a bath for over a week and the drinking water is being made available only through water tankers that the Social Security Department arranges for the inmates twice a day. The tank water is used sparingly - only for drinking and cooking. The bathrooms are full of filth as the flushes are choked, as they had not been cleaned for more than a month. The place has become a stinking hole. The inmates are unable to use coolers without water. Cooking has become difficult and raw material is being cooking without washing. Clothes, too, have not been washed and the inmates are living in unhygienic conditions. “Motor of the water pump has been out of order and despite constant reminders, it has not been repaired. We have called up the superintending engineer and the junior engineer but no one is bothered,” an official of the after-care home said. Despite scores of complaints given to the PWD, nothing has been done to solve the problem. The employees, including the policemen and guards on duty, too are having a terrible time surviving the day without bath and clean toilets. The cops guarding the observation home are not left with any other choice but to allow the inmates to go out frequently to access drinking water from the water tanker. “We are worried one of them might run away,” said a cop on duty. PWD officials could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
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Honour Killing
Chandigarh, June 12 The shocking incident in Kapurthala district was brought to the notice of Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia, almost one-and-a-half years after the high court in another case expressed hope the practice of honour killing would be “stamped out” like “sati” with the state and the society’s intervention. Taking up the petition, Justice Ahluwalia has now made it clear he was in favour of the case being investigated without fear or favour. In the habeas corpus petition, Davinder Singh had claimed he married Rupinder Kaur on May 2 last year against her parents’wishes. On April 19, relatives came to his house with assurance of performing marriage after Rupinder Kaur was sent back. During the hearing on May 28, the high court observed: “One Rupinder Kaur is missing. The state is least concerned whether she has been liquidated or abducted. Who has done it? How has it been done? Instead of taking this course, the parties are resorting to blame-game. Petitioner, who claimed himself to be husband, stated marriage has not been accepted, therefore, Rupinder Kaur was in custody of her parents and her whereabouts are not known. “A reply has been filed by some of the respondents that Rupinder Kaur is in custody of her husband Davinder Singh”. As the case came up for resumed hearing, Justice Ahluwalia observed: “Bahadur Singh, deputy superintendent of police, Kapurthala, is present in Court. He has stated Rupinder Kaur was murdered and case FIR No 154, dated May 31, has been registered at the Kapurthala police station, under Sections 364, 342, 120-B IPC. “It is stated Jatinder Singh, brother of Rupinder Kaur, and Sheetal Singh, her uncle, have been arrested. The arrest of the two respondents is sufficient to infer that it is a case of honour killing”. Disposing of the petition, Justice Ahluwalia observed: “Bahadur Singh has assured the court that without fear or favour, the FIR will be investigated in accordance with the provisions of law and no guilty will be spared. This Court intends to believe and trust Bahadur Singh. By giving an assurance to this court, he has put his credibility at stake”. Punjab was represented by assistant advocate-general Mehardeep Singh.
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‘Panchayats can prohibit sale of liquor’
Sangrur, June 12 Social activist Kamal Anand, who has been working on social issues, including implementation of the Right to Information Act for the past some years, said yesterday, “As per Section 40 of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, a gram panchayat by a resolution, supported by at least two-thirds of panchs passed at any time on or after April 1 and on or before September 30, could direct that liquor may not be sold at any licensed shop within the Gram Sabha area”. Anand further said as per the Act, such a resolution, passed by the panchayat, would be binding upon the Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab. However, such a resolution would not be binding upon the Commissioner only if he/she was of the opinion, based on concrete evidence, that illicit distillation or smuggling of alcohol had been made in that particular area during the past two years, he added. Anand further said it was a matter of happiness that even without having knowledge about the Section 40, Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, the panchayat of Jalan village, near Ghabdan village of the district, had created an example by way of passing a resolution on June 1 that it would neither allow the opening of a liquor shop in its village nor allow the sale of liquor. Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Sangrur, TS Virk confirmed that under the Panchayati Raj Act the panchayats had the power to introduce prohibition in villages. However, he said, the Excise and Taxation Commissioner would take the final decision.
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Fee-Waiver Scheme
Jalandhar, June 12 Even monitoring bodies, including the Directorate of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Punjab, and Punjab Technical University, are not clear on how to go about it. While the scheme could not be implemented last year because of a delay in issuing a notification to this effect, no clear guidelines or fresh reminders have been released this year as well. While the scheme entails admissions to 10 per cent additional seats in degree and diploma courses in engineering and technology, hotel management and catering technology, pharmacy and architecture, the college directors, who offer these courses, have said they are yet to receive a copy of the notification or any orders from the university. Leave aside the PTU brochure or website, none of the technical colleges or polytechnic institutes have publicised the features of the scheme in any way. Principal-cum-Director, DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jalandhar, CL Kochher said he was not clear on several procedural issues. “Any businessman or agriculturist could come to us with a certificate showing less income. How do we verify it? We have been asked to provide free lodging to such students in our hostel, but we have not been told as to who will compensate us for the same,” he added. The lack of will on the part of colleges seemed more evident as Chairman, CT Institutes, Charanjit Channi goes to the extent of saying: “How can we implement the scheme when we are not clear whether the state government has received any sanction for seat enhancement from AICTE?” PTU Vice-Chancellor Rajneesh Arora said: “We are no where in the picture. The colleges and the DCs have to implement it while the technical education directorate is to monitor it”. Even Jalandhar DC Ajeet Singh Pannu feigned ignorance as he said: “Kindly enquire about the same from PTU officials. I think a fresh notification to this effect
is to come”. Principal Secretary, Technical Education and Training, Tejinder Kaur said she would make sure that the colleges go ahead with the implementation of the scheme. “These seats are not to be filled through counselling. Instead, the process has to be completed ahead of it and students need to start applying for admission under the scheme in colleges of their preference,” she said. However, the PTU counselling schedule has already begun with students being asked to pay up counselling fee at designated banks before June 19.
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Sr docs against re-employment of ex-colleagues
Chandigarh, June 12 The doctors, most of them senior medical officers (SMOs), have in a representation to the Chief Minister and the Health Department claimed that such action was taking away promotional avenues available to the Punjab Civil Medical Service (PCMS) cadre. They have pointed out that senior positions like director (Punjab Health Systems Corporation), joint director (PHSC), additional product director (AIDS Control Society) and medical superintendent (Mata Kaushalya Hospital, Patiala) were presently held by retired PCMS or persons on a “pick-and-choose” criteria. They allege that this had deprived several SMOs of a chance to be promoted as deputy directors and medical officers. Claiming there was no dearth of competent officers among the SMOs, the doctors demanded that all contractual appointments be terminated and filled against PCMS cadre posts. The memorandum to the Chief Minister, submitted under by PCMS Association led by Dr DC Sharma and Dr YC Markan, said in a cadre of 3,561 PCMS officers and 1,200 rural medical officers there were only 40 promotional posts. The doctors have also claimed that when any post of civil surgeon or equivalent fell vacant, “a legal, proper and uniform criteria” was not followed to fill it up. They also stated that while seniority was not taken into consideration in many cases, the worst case was at Barnala where the junior-most officer had been given the post of civil surgeon overstepping seven SMO rank officers posted in the district. Dr SPS Sohal, director (Health Services) said he would have to find out if there was any policy on the basis of which re-employment was being given on senior posts. He said the election code had earlier come in the way of filling some posts while officiating civil surgeons had been appointed only as a “time gap” measure and senior doctors would be posted as civil surgeons wherever necessary.
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Flood control rooms for Ropar
Ropar, June 12 The centres have been established at tehsils offices of Ropar, Anandpur Sahib, Nangal, Chamkaur Sahib and at sub-tehsil levels. During monsoons, these control rooms will be active round-the- clock, claimed DC Priyank Bharti. Apart from this, a main flood control office has been put up at district level. The district revenue officer will be its incharge. The phone numbers of main control room established at the district level is 01881-221157. A control room has also been set up at office of executive engineer, water conservation department, Ropar. The phone number of this office is 01881-222073. The number of control room at tehsildar Ropar office is 01881-221156. Number of control centre at tehsildar Anandpur Sahib office is 01887-232075, of tehsildar office Chamkaur Sahib is 01881-260400, of BDPO officer Nurpur Bedi is 01887-240424, of Ropar MC office is 01881-222314 and 01881-225460, of MC office Morinda is 0160-2630037, of MC office Anandpur Sahib is 01887-232026 and that of tehsildar Nangal is 01887-221030.
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Akali MLA suspected with swine flu
Amritsar, June 12 According to Dr RPS Boparai, superintendent of the hospital, Kang was found “weakly positive” and has undergone tests again today. The samples have been sent to the Institute of Communicable Disease in New Delhi. Earlier, Kang had undergone tests on June 10, reports of which were received yesterday. He has been advised against meeting anyone, including his family members. Kang had returned from London on June 2. However, the next day he fell ill and was admitted to
the hospital. Dr Boparai said treatment had been started. He, however, added that it was not yet a confirmed case of swine flu and they were waiting for the reports of second samples. The doctor said Kang had been admitted as a precautionary measure.
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Ultrasound machines sealed
Sangrur, June 12 Sangrur Civil Surgeon Dalip Kumar said, “During inspection, it was found that the records of the ultrasound centre of Raikhy Nursing Home were not properly maintained and Mittal Scan Centre’s records were repeatedly found locked”. “Notices were issued to both, but their replies had been found unsatisfactory by the committee,” he added. The Civil Surgeon said district family welfare officer Dr Kuldip Singh sealed the ultrasound machines.
— TNS
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PSEB levies peak-load charges
Jalandhar, June 12 “We are shocked to find that the PSEB has us asked to pay Rs 9,118 as peak loan energy charges for the month of May, though our three-phase connection was cut on April 20. We have now a single-phase connection at our rice mill located at Bajra village near here,” said the owner of the rice mill. “We had got the permission from the PSEB to operate 100 KW load during the peak load hour till April 30 this year. However, we got the connection disconnected on April 20 and now, we have only a single-phase connection as shelling season has ended,” said the owner.
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Estate officers appointed
Chandigarh, June 12 Disclosing this here, a spokesman of the Punjab government said IAS, PCS and senior officers of the Mandi Board had been appointed estate officers under the Rule 3 (F) of the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board (Sale and Transfer of Plots), 1999, to facilitate the entire
auction procedure and the officers would head the auction committee of the district concerned.
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High Court
Chandigarh, June 12 In his appeal placed before Vacation Bench of Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia and Justice Augustine George Masih, the appellant argued after his induction in the IPS, and the allotment of seniority by the Union home ministry, the state government service rules did not apply to him any more. Meeting stayed Justice Ajay Tewari on Friday ruled the meeting of the state Wakf Board slated for June 18 shall not be held. The meeting was being convened for the election of a chairman. The directions follow a writ petition filed by Punjab Wakf Board chairperson Razia Sultana, who is also the Congress MLA from Malerkotla constituency. She had moved the court against the meeting by the state government. In her plea against the state home secretary, CEO of the board and the Union ministry of minority affairs, her counsel argued the state government was not empowered to convene such a meeting as also held by the high court.
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