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Cash-for-Job Scam Cops start seizing Education Dept’s record Sumedha Sharma Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 10 “Prior to this, we had never formally interrogated Samawartak but just summoned him for an informal talk but now, based on our investigation, we will send him a written questionnaire tomorrow with more than 20 questions, covering all possible aspects of the case,” said an official. In addition to this, the police has also started the process of seizing the Education Department’s record of recruitment and is specifically probing the role of external agencies attached with the process. “Yes, we have started taking the record about all stages of this process like advertisement, panels, etc and are probing the role of the external agencies that were involved in this”, said SP Madhur Verma. The police has confirmed the seizure of the department’s records. According to sources, Samwartak Singh had reportedly admitted to having been in touch with Jolly for some tourism initiatives, it might also stretch its investigation to the Tourism Department’s records, if required. Meanwhile, with this questionnaire coming a day after, Samwartak disassociated himself from the recruitment process but it has been learnt that a lot of work of the Tourism Department has come to a standstill or is being diverted. Meanwhile, a local court today sentenced Jolly and Hardev to 14-day judicial custody. Both of them had earlier been sent on the two-day police remand twice.
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Passengers suffer Jet-lag
Jyoti Rai
Chandigarh, September 10 Adding to the woes of the passengers, Kingfisher, another airline operator from the city, today cancelled its Chandigarh-Delhi flight, citing “mandatory maintenance issues”. More trouble is in store for passengers tomorrow, as the Kingfisher would not be operating its flight for the next couple of days, said a Kingfisher. If any breakthrough is achieved between the Jet Airways and its pilots, some relief would certainly arrive for passengers, said officials at the airport. With both Jet Airways and Kingfisher flights down, the entire load fell on the Indian Airlines flight that has already registered a considerable increase in its bookings in the last couple of days. Passengers with urgent plans, who had booked their tickets with other two private airlines, had no option but to opt for Indian Airlines that flies an indirect flight to Bombay via Delhi. Today, 154 passengers flew with the airlines out of its total capacity of 172 passengers. According to officials, Indian airlines have registered almost a 20 per cent hike in its passengers. Even before 8.30 p.m. today, the flight for tomorrow was booked to its entire capacity. With no more options left, out of those who missed on Indian Airlines, most passengers resorted to travel by road or railways. Today, the morning Kalka Shatabdi and the evening Shatabadi Express registered a considerable increase in the bookings. “All the executive seats in the evening Shatabdi are booked. It is 5.30 p.m. right now and still as many as 50 to 70 people are queued up outside the current booking counter. Efforts are being made to accommodate them in AC chair car coaches.” “But what is worrisome is the fact that with the weekend approaching, the situation is set to worsen. Passenger rush even in trains connecting to Delhi will be tremendous. How easy will it be to accommodate passengers tomorrow, will have to be seen,” he added. In this tussle between the Jet management and the National Aviators guild (the newly formed union of the jet pilots), it’s the everyday passenger who is bearing the brunt. Passengers planning air travel in the next couple of days have been advised to confirm flight schedules and details from the respective airlines websites to be on the safer side.
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Ground staff’s plea to pilots
Chandigarh, September 10 Today, as the Jet Airways pilots' stir entered the third day with no signs of any breakthrough, airline’s ground staff today came forward in a media interaction and urged the “captains” to return to work. In Chandigarh as well, the entire 55-member ground staff team shared their experience over the last three days of strike. The ground staff voiced that the even as the pilots and the management have locked horns, it’s the passengers and the ground staff who are the most affected. There have been instances where some of the passengers had to cancel their long-route travels abroad as well. Another staffer commented, “Flights from here connect passengers from this region to Delhi and Bombay from where they plan their further travel. Many will have visa issues again. We had a guest day before, whose company delayed his trip by six months after he reported that he would miss his flight from Bombay to Brussels. Even though we are informing everyone in advance, the inconvenience remains.” Highlighting their point of view, the ground staff extended their support to the Airline management and urged the pilots to settle the matter “within the jet family”. Not even a single Jet flight from Chandigarh had been functional since yesterday. As per the latest inputs, even tomorrow, the flights stand cancelled.
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Order on urban properties creates confusion
Mohali, September 10 This time, the babus, in an effort to plug the leakage of revenue during the registration of urban properties, have not only created scare but also confusion among the general public. To plug the leakage, the Department of Revenue and Rehabilitation, Punjab, has issued a notification wherein a valuation certificate by a registered architect has been made mandatory to register an urban property across the state. The yardstick would also be used to charge the stamp duty. Revenue officials here are confused over the interpretation of the notification issued in the last week of August. “ We have received a copy only two days ago. Since the order is applicable from October 1, 2009, certain clarifications have to be sought from the department concerned”, admitted a revenue official. “If one goes by the order, it implies that whenever an urban property buyer presents his papers for registration before the registering officer, he has to attach valuation certificate of an architect. In this manner, the stamp duty chargeable at the rate of 8 per cent would go up by more than 300 per cent”, said the official. There was also confusion among the officials over the meaning of urban properties. The officials in the District Revenue Department believe that the evaluator would only have to give the value of the constructed part, and for the value of the
plot, the collector rate of Rs 10,000 per sq yard would be used to calculate the stamp duty. “It appears to be weird that two different yardsticks are being followed to assess the plot and the constructed part”, said ID Singh, general secretary of the Mohali Property Consultant Association. “A number of bureaucrats, politicians and police officials would be in trouble if registered architects assess the urban properties. Evaluating a property, including a plot, would mean that the buyer and seller would have to show the actual financial transaction of a property. This could land a number of persons in trouble.” The best way to check revenue evasion would be bring the minimum collector rate to near the realistic price and drastically reduce the stamp duty, said a revenue official. The investor feels that valuer can charge as much money he wants to give the certificate under value certificate of the property, as it will be considered as the valid valuation of the property for the purpose of registration and charging of the stamp duty. The state government must bring something for the simplification of the registration procedure to help the people.
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Ex-servicemen can transform society:
Rodrigues
Chandigarh, September 10 He stressed the need for creating a workable and effective model for empowering the community as a whole to be replicated by the rest of the country.
Emphasising that the ex-servicemen constitute a useful and experienced taskforce with great potential and experience achieved during their active career in the defence forces, Rodrigues said that they could become a catalyst of change for the transformation of the society. It is, therefore, imperative that a suitable common platform is created for them to share their knowledge and perceptions for benefiting the people and for putting Punjab on the fast track, he said.
Rodrigues said that serving and retired members of the armed forces must expand their role and actively participate in the process of social change and national development through partnerships. This forum, he said, had been conceptualised to work as a nodal agency and the Chief Minister and the state machinery were totally responsive and supportive to strategies which aimed to improve the lot of the common people. Every ex-serviceman has the traditional aptitude of selfless service to the nation and their progressive ideas and active involvement in every field of activity can prove a boon for society, he added.
Rodrigues said this umbrella organisation must have sub-groups of
experts in different fields of service, like education, employment,
medical and the different chapters must be assigned specific
responsibilities. These sub-groups must institutionalize an interactive
process with the concerned government departments to resolve people’s
problems through monitoring at appropriate levels. He said various
organisations, like the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry had a vast reservoir of employment opportunities for the skilled and unskilled persons and the need was to systematically coordinate the
endeavour. The sub-group of the ex-servicemen dealing with employment can be helpful in supporting target groups and guiding them to avail of the employment opportunities. The Governor asked the Directorate of Sainik Welfare Department to institute a system for identifying the potential among the ex-servicemen and take forward the process for institutionalising this programme.
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Punjabi play portrays patriotic spirit
Chandigarh, September 10 Conceived by Bhag Singh decades ago, the play, scripted and directed by the veteran thespian scholar Charan Singh Sindra, exhaled an aura of patriotism as it brought alive the saga of sacrifice and martyrdom by legendry Shaheed Udham Singh. Sindra illustrated his own perspective that how the freedom fighters and martyrs feel concerned for the spirit of Independence being diluted and corrupted by Indian masses which they secured making supreme sacrifices. He relied mainly on historical facts, but at times borrowed mythological concept to show the statue of Udham Singh coming to life. The play eloquently depicted the freedom struggle and resolute resolve of martyr Udham Singh to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Sindra has created symbolic characters and sequences to bring into focus the unscrupulous elements engaged in fanning terrorism, corruption and unethical activities which must be dealt with sternly. The crisp dialogue delivery by actors and soothing music augmented the production level captivated the audience who braved the rains to relish the play. Sindra won applause for his pulsating portrayal of central character Gurdev as also Vicky Baba as the protagonist, Ram Mohammad Singh Azad, Anil Masih (Laatibhan), besides Sandip Nahar, Mohit Sharma, Harsimranjit, Gurinder , Surinder and Goldy Lamba. Other credits were shared by Gaurav Sharma, TP Singh, Dr Gurpreet Sindra and Prabhdev Singh.
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More stray dogs to be sterilised
Chandigarh, September 10 The census report of the Animal Husbandry Department, UT, in October, 2007, about 5,309 stray dogs was tabled at the meeting. An official informed members that under the dog sterlisation scheme, 3,768 stray dogs had been sterilised till August 31, 2009, and were protected against rabies. The official revealed that the corporation was making its efforts to keep a check on stray dogs by conducting sterilisation operations. It was decided at the meeting that the People for Animals would now undertake the sterilisation of 150 stray dogs per month instead of 100 and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals would take 200 stray dogs per month. The organs removed after sterilisation will be handed over to the corporation for inspection and destruction thereof. The dog-catching vehicle will be provided to the People for Animals once a week in addition to their own vehicle so as to enable it to increase the number of sterilisations. The Animal Welfare Board of India will be approached so as to provide latest rates for remuneration so that the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can be given enhanced remuneration, if any, which is Rs. 370 per dog. The People for Animals is performing the sterilisation operations of its own but will be provided with material in kind to strengthen their activities. The People for Animals has agreed to provide their premises as “Dog Pound” in order to accommodate the captured ferocious and rabid dogs from the city. The NGO and the corporation will carry out extensive information, education and communication activities through the media for the awareness of the public at large. The meeting was attended by Payal Sodhi, founder trustee, People for Animals, Chandigarh, Gyan Chand Agarwal, president, Dr Jagdish Kochhar, Dr R K Garg from the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dr J S Nijjer, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Dr Toor, veterinarians and officers of the corporation.
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‘Law an important part of international relations’
Mohali, September 10 He said the international law “had not been born yesterday, but developed throughout centuries”. New challenges had been faced today and the tools available at present had been for a different world. There had been a need to revise international law. Transnational rules had to be developed for tackling issues, like global warming, global financial crisis, epidemic diseases and terrorism. The important rule of international law had been the principle of sovereignty, he added. While talking about the use of military force, the Ambassador said nobody could abandon one’s right to self-defence, but nobody could justify war in order to extend one’s territory. The force could be used to protect human values and help people to lead a normal life. Double standards had not been acceptable and there had been a need for common standards. He said the most dangerous threat to the world’s stability had been defined by terrorism, for which an international law had been important, because each country had its own priorities. International community should make an effort to reach a common definition, because each one of us had been a target. The Ambassador, who had vast experience in the field of international law and relations between India and Italy with reference to the NRI problems, educated the students on the issue. He is also an alumni of law department, University of Parma, John Hopkins University and Harvard University. He also had been visiting as professor of University of Pisa and Libera University, Rome. About 350 students and faculty attended the guest lecture.
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Panel moots construction of parking places
Chandigarh, September 10 The committee has recommended rough cost estimate (RCE) of road cuts made by the public health wing on V-5 road, Sector 42 A and B and the parking of the green belt in Sector 42 A and B, along V-5 and V-4 road in Sector 42 of Rs 6.94 lakh, RCE for construction of parking side of SCO 1, Sector 7 C of Rs 17.71 lakh , RCE for providing and laying 40mm thick asphaltic concrete on road between pocket A and B in Sector 38 West of Rs 22.41, revised RCE beautification of the green belt in Sector 35-D of Rs 4.52 lakh. Besides this other agendas, RCE for construction of boundary wall in Dushera Ground, Manimajra, of Rs 7.87 lakh, RCE for development of the green belt in Sector 10 Rs 4.97 lakh, revised RCE for construction of parking along V-4 road near Math Mandir and construction of toe wall, baffle wall and providing and fixing paver blocks for green belt, Sector 20 of Rs 9.94 lakh were also approved.
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Rain delays flights, trains
Chandigarh, September 10 The life was paralysed, causing hardships to office-goers and students. The traffic movement on roads, railways and airports was disrupted with the city recording 57 mm rainfall. The meteorological department has forecast heavy rains in the city in the next 24 hours. It was a whirlpool today at the entrance of the Chandigarh Airport. With almost 2-3 feet water on the road leading to the entrance, several auto rickshaws, scooters and even four wheelers broke down. Several flights arrived late at the airport, including Air India’s Bombay to Chandigarh via Delhi flight that arrived at 3.00 pm and departed again at 3.40 pm. Air Traffic Controllers at the airport recorded poor visibility due to the weather. The weather added to the already existing troubles of passengers due to the ongoing Jet Airways pilots’ strike . Even Kingfisher’s Chandigarh-Delhi flight was not operating. Some delays were also recorded at the railway station. The Unchahar Express arrived around 1.30pm, hours late from its scheduled time. No major report of waterlogging was received from any part of the city, but rain continues intermittently throughout the day.
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New Zealand delegates visit IT institute
Mohali, September 10 Programme leader Rose Mary Ropa, business management department, Waiariki Institute of Technology, interacted with the undergraduate students of BBA/BCA and BSc (IT) about different avenues available for them in New Zealand. She particularly targeted the first and final year students, who could go to New Zealand under the credit transfer mode of the study. She laid emphasis on the path the students should take to settle abroad. With great scope for GNM candidates, who could get a BSc nursing degree at Waiariki Institute, she talked about the demand of nursing professionals and their scope in New Zealand. The talk was followed by a one-to-one interactive session with the students to answer their queries.
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Army, IAF commanders discuss joint operations
Chandigarh, September 10 Air Marshal Browne, on his first visit to the Tricity after he assumed charge as AOC-in-C, WAC, also visited Advance Headquarters, WAC where he was briefed by its commander, Air Vice Marshal Arup Raha. He also interacted with officers and personnel of the Advance HQs, which serves as an operational link between the army and the air force. Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional) president Kiran also paid a visit to the military station and interacted with the families of IAF personnel. She later visited Asha School for special children and the Army Wives Welfare Association’s Vocational Training Centre at Chandimandir.
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Rain
damages wiring at PGI building
Chandigarh, September 10 While the wiring in the renovated computer biodata centre at the Nehru building was damaged due to short-circuit, the engineering department cut off the power supply to the department. Similarly, the water leakages were reported from cath lab at Cardiac Care
Centre, gastroenteritis department, bone marrow centre and surgery department. The PGI spokesperson however said the
problem was due to the age of the building of Nehru Hospital, which was already under renovation.
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Consumer body flays hike in power tariff
Mohali, September 10 The federation has urged the government and the power board to withdraw the hike, as it was an additional financial burden on the common man, failing which consumers would be forced to take to streets in protest and the authorities concerned would be responsible for it. Federation president PS Virdi said the Punjab government and the power board had adopted a dual yardstick. On the one hand, it had resorted to power cuts due to shortage of supply, on the other hand it was providing free power to farmers. Virdi urged the PSEB authorities to check transmission losses and power theft, and recover outstanding payments after which there would be no need to burden the common consumer.
— OC
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Dimpy’s allegations false: Virk’s son-in-law
Tribune News Service
Mohali, September 10 On August 28, Dimpy had alleged that Brar had threatened him to sign on blank papers. In his application before the court, Brar stated that Dimpy’s complaint was frivolous and it had been done in connivance with the investigating officer and public prosecutor. Instead, Dimpy had been made a tool to intimidate him as he was defending the case of Virk. The statement issued by Dimpy spoke of the evil designs of the state government, added Brar. Meanwhile, the police was investigating the application of Dimpy seeking security cover.
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Commissioner to inspect Sector 22 encroachments
Chandigarh, September 10 The directions followed a petition by the Sector 22 Welfare Society against the UT Administration, the Municipal Corporation and the Inspector
General of Police. The petitioner, referring to the provisions of the MC Act, Capital of Punjab (Development and Regularisation) Act, 1952, said the market corridors with SCOs, SCFs and booths were to be kept free from encroachments by stocking of goods, merchandising and hawkers and also to ensure the free flow of vehicular traffic in the
parking areas.
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Foreign jobs for N-medicine students Chandigarh, September 10 One student was joining the Canadian Nuclear Medicine Board abroad. Another one was joining PET training at Westmind Hospital in Sydney. Similarly, the others also got placed in prestigious institutes. The course had been started in view of extreme shortage of trained technical manpower in hospitals and research institutes in India as well as abroad.
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Army renews tie-up with Fortis
Chandigarh, September 10 Confirming this, Dr Ashish R. Banerji, director, Fortis Hospital, said, “The memorandum of association of Fortis Hospital with the ECHS has been renewed and we rededicate ourselves to providing the best of services to all the ex-servicemen”. It was in May when the Army authorities had put on hold the re-empanelment of Fortis Hospital accusing it of “overcharging and harassing” Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) beneficiaries. Later, many ex-servicemen approached Army officials to sort out the issue so that the members availing the scheme did not suffer.
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Border violations by China discussed
Chandigarh, September 10 Lt General Vijay Oberai, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), former Army commander and director-general of military operations, shared his thoughts with the students. The Lt General began with the introductory note about China’s politico-military significance. He also talked about the market strength, role of Dalai Lama and leverages available to India which could be exploited but sans Indian policy viewpoints. He also answered the questions raised by the students.
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Slum kids ignored on Literacy Day
Chandigarh, September 10 Riding high on the wave of Literacy Day, the city that organised numerous awareness rallies, surprisingly forgot about these kids dwelling in slums or streets, who according to a recent survey of education department, have either not ever been to schools or dropped out and taken to begging or petty crimes. According to the report that created ripples around six months back and was apparently forgotten later, more than 20 per cent of kids surveyed in the city-based slums and traffic lights had never been to schools while others had not even received the primary education and dropped out at initial stages. The condition of girls was worse as more than 50 per cent of them were made household maids even before the age of 13. It may be noted that following this report, though the department went all the way to announce formation of special committees to devise ways to pull these kids to schools, but nothing substantial was ever heard after this. Prior to this, the department had come out with ambitious projects of “catching” beggars and putting them in schools, but nothing much happened because according to the principals, who were appointed to raid traffic lights, these kids could never be forced to study. However, apparently unperturbed by these failures, the department swears by its latest collaboration with several NGOs in running AIE centres. “We are giving alternate innovative education to kids and strength is surely increasing. We know these kids cannot be forced to come to school, but just lured. So we are trying our best to do so,” said one of the officials.
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Education key to empowerment: Sobti
Chandigarh, September 10 At least 80 students from various departments participated in poster-making and slogan-writing competitions. The first three entries of both competitions were awarded by Panjab University Vice-Chancellor, Prof RC
Sobti. Winners: Slogan-writing: Meenu (Ist), Manpreet (IInd), Ruchi (IIIrd); poster-making: Sapna
(Ist), Nitika (IInd) and Anupreet (IIIrd). Professor Sobti said literacy and education empowered people to take informed decisions and capacitated them to look after their health, nutrition, reproduction, etc. A literate nation is an empowered nation, he opined. He also launched a forum, “Open Books, Open Doors”, wherein literate and educated members of the forum will help uneducated people to learn reading and writing. Dr
Sween, assistant director, CACEE, Panjab University, said: “It is the social responsibility of everyone to make our lesser privileged neighbours and members of society literate, aware and empowered.” She invited volunteers for the “open-door-open-book”
forum. Sumit Roy, chief manager, State Bank of India, said their bank was ready to assist socially useful and productive ventures. Amit
Bhatia, president, PUCSC, said the student council was keen on associating itself with meaningful activities on the campus. Prof SK Sharma, secretary to Vice-Chancellor, Prof Naval
Kishore, Dean (students welfare), Prof SS Bari, Registrar, were also present. Professor Sobti later flagged off a students’ rally around the residential areas on the campus and Bhaskar Colony, said director, adult education.
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Central status for varsity discussed Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 10 PUTA members unanimously decided that pressure should be put on the Punjab government to achieve the Central status of the university. Despite 148-day chain hunger strike, nothing substantial worked out in the matter earlier. The issue of promotion of teaching staff according to the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) was also raised. It was agreed that the university administration should adopt a transparent policy, which should be time bound. The promotions should not be done according to whims and fancies of senior officials, said the members. Meanwhile, the issue of renovation of the teachers’ flats was also highlighted at the meeting. The members had complaint that the flats were in a shabby state and urgently needed renovation; still no attention was being paid to them. The issue of health benefits to dependants of female employees in Panjab University was also raised. Till now, the dependents of the female employees could not avail the benefits of the health card, as enjoyed by others. The members also raised the point of filling up of vacant posts in various departments in PU, which had been long pending.
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Manpreet adjudged Miss Fresher
Chandigarh, September 10 Aditi bagged the title of “Miss Beautiful Smile”, while Nisha became “Miss Beautiful Eyes”. Priya Thakur was acclaimed Miss Beautiful Hair, while Priyanka Malhotra “Miss Beautiful Walk”. The title for “Miss Beautiful Skin” went to Mantasha while Manpreet Brar and Inderpreet were adjudged “Miss Popular” and “Miss Beautiful Smile”, respectively. Through various rounds presenting traditional divas, the contestants were shortlisted for questions to test their wit and expression. Interspersed with music and dance performances, the show accorded honour to 10 women of substance. Ajoy Sharma, director, higher education, Chandigarh, was chief guest. The principal of the college, Dr Puneet Bedi called the event an innovative and fresh attempt towards manoeuvering such events in a professional manner at this stage. Dr Bedi asserted the significance of personality development and confidence in making women of substance.
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