Chandigarh, September 14
In gross violation of its own deputation policy, the UT administration has apparently bent all rules to get Amandeep Kaur, wife of DPI (S) Samwartak Singh, posted on deputation in the Government College for Girls, Sector 42, from her prior posting as a lecturer in Patiala.

As per the norms, the minimum service period required for anybody coming on deputation to UT is five years. Amandeep Kaur had served the Government College for Girls Patiala as a lecturer just a few months ago before she got deputed to the psychology department of the GCG-42 this month.

The notification of the UT personnel department (Dated 18.8.1993) reads “no official shall be taken on deputation unless he/she possesses at least five years of regular service as such in his or her parent cadre. It is however, clarified that regular service shall not include service on adhoc basis but probation period can be included”.

While Amandeep herself could not be contacted for the verification of the exact period of her service, according to officials of the GCG, Patiala, she joined the college in June 2009, this being her first job in the state after clearing the Punjab Public Service Commission exam. Just after about two and a half months, she went to Chandigarh on deputation.

When contacted, Director Higher Education Ajoy Sharma said he would look into the matter. However, Home Secretary Ram Niwas asserted that she had been given relaxation on a “couple” basis.

“The Governor has all the powers to give such relaxations, and in this case also the relaxation was given to Amandeep Kaur as her husband is posted in the UT,” he said.

Surprisingly, when questioned about the documentary proof of Amandeep seeking any such relaxation and Governor granting it, Ram Niwas said, “If you want the documents, please seek it under the RTI Act.”

Panchkula, September 14
With over 10 deaths in the past couple of years and scores of maimed residents, Mandlai and Bhoor villages, around 15 km from here, can well be called the “killing fields” of Panchkula district.

Jimir                  Shyam Lal

While there have been no hostilities in the area, residents of these villages are virtually victims of “friendly fire”, dying and getting crippled, thanks to unexploded grenades and mortar shell left around callously by the Army and paramilitary forces, which use the nearby firing ranges.

The death trail of this callousness apparently reached even the Ambedkar colony where three innocent lives were lost yesterday.

“For almost six hours, I didn’t know he was dead. In the evening, we found his body in the fields, all ripped apart,” said Shravan Kumar from Bhoor, whose brother fell prey to one such unexploded bombs in December, 2006.

Speaking of similar instances in the village, others said: “We have now lost count of deaths due to these misfired bombshells. So many who had been handicapped, died over the years. Just last year, around five labourers died here because of a mortar bomb explosion.”

Newly recruited CRPF jawans head towards the firing range during their camp near Panchkula. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

There are six villages adjoining these firing ranges in Bhoor, including five Bhoor villages and Mandlai village.

The stretch makes for an ideal firing practice ground with the Army, the CRPF, the ITPB and other paramilitary forces.

On the firing range in the region, Army sources said the impact area of the range was within the defence land and hence out of bounds for civilians. If they (civilians) entered the area, it was illegal and they did so at their own risk.

However, a majority of villagers claim that there have been instances where misfired bombshells have left many outside the range injured.

Shyam Lal, who lives in Mandlai village, just 300 metres from the firing range, is one of the other several similar stories. He lost two fingers of the left hand even as he was well out of the firing range.

He said: “It was a heavy mortar shell. The fragments of the bomb cut my fingers. Had I been 50 metres ahead, I would have died.”

Bachha Singh, also from Mandlai who lost his left eye, hand and incurred other injuries on his legs, said: “Four of us found an unexploded bomb in the nearby fields. The bomb exploded and one of my friends died on the spot. The other two died three years ago, none of the aggrieved families received any compensation.”

Villagers recalled that last year a hand grenade left 11 ITBP jawans dead. While seven died on the spot, four others were reported dead when admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh. “A misfired bomb landed just a foot away and killed my cousin, Ramsharan. He left behind a wife and two kids. His family also did not receive any compensation,” said Ramesh.

Residents in these villages agree that sometimes children pick and collect shells. One of the elders from Manlai said: “Also many residents pick these shells and throw them in rivers nearby so as to avoid any chance encounters. It’s quite possible that the shells recovered yesterday had been swept away by current to Panchkula, near the Ghaggar.”

Sources in the Army added that although the Army had no role to play in collecting scrap, which was done by contractors, a general search of the area was made after firing.

Under the orders, misfired shells or grenades are to be destroyed at the range. However, given the terrain and the layout of the land there is a possibility of certain projectiles not being located.

Chandigarh, September 14
The UT administration is all set to replace the current committee chairmen of the ongoing TGT and JBT recruitment in the education department.

With the Director Higher Education Ajoy Sharma and Director Technical Education Prithi Chand walking out for reasons of their own, the committees will now be headed by Sunil Bhatia, CGM, CITCO, and Sandeep Kumar, CEO, Chandigarh Housing Board.

While Ajoy has left the TGT recruitment Committee to join election duty, Prithi Chand has voluntarily opted out on reasons of excessive work.

“One of the co-officials is not there for work. So I shall have to take the charge. I am also involved in some important assignments of the finance department and given all this, I will not be able to pay proper attention to it, so have opted out,” said Prithi.

Surprisingly, Prithi opted out after attending the first day of the JBT interviews scheduled from today. Though this sudden change has obviously created ripples in the backdrop of the ongoing recent cash-for-job scam in the TGT recruitments, Home Secretary Ram Niwas defined it as normal administration work.

Chandigarh, September 14
The high-profile Bheora case pertaining to the assassination of former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, will take more time before being decided. For the special court conducting the trial, headed by Additional District and Sessions Judge RK Sondhi, moved application today before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking three months time to dispose of the case.

The high court had earlier directed the special court to decide the case, which has been lying pending for the past 14 years.

In the letter written to the high court, it has been stated that owing to the fact the defence evidence has not been concluded yet, about a month will be taken in arguments by both sides, and a month is required to prepare the judgment. Therefore, three months have been sought to dispose of the case.

It has also been stated that the judgment would consume this much time owing to hundreds of witnesses and records in the case.

Another application was also moved today before the high court, seeking more time for hearing arguments as against the norm of pronouncing the judgment after a stipulated time of hearing the final arguments.

Meanwhile, defence counsel AS Chahal also moved an application in the special court to summon three witnesses, including two photographers, and another witness to be examined in the case.

Chandigarh, September 14
The transfer of cooperative group housing societies flats on general power of attorney (GPA) is set to be hassle-free and transparent with the Cooperative Department proposing major changes in the March 2, 2009 notification.

In fact, taking care of the grievances of GPA holders against managements of societies, the administration has proposed that “all transfer of shares/membership in favour of GPA holder or any other person by the original allottee member will be allowed without the pre-condition of clearance of his dues with the society or getting a ‘no dues certificate’ (NDC) from the society and without the society taking the NDC from the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB).”

However, the GPA holder/transferee shall be bound to clear his dues with the society, which are outstanding as of now, or may arise by subsequent audits/re-audit, corrections of previous periods of time. GPA holders will give an affidavit to the society for the same, the administration has proposed.

“The proposal has been moved keeping in view difficulties faced by GPA holders based on feedback from them and the administration was committed to making the property transactions simplified,” Home-cum-Cooperation Secretary Ram Niwas said.

Now, the transfer in favour of will-holder registered with the Sub-Registrar will be allowed after giving an advertisement in a leading newspaper asking for objections, if any, by giving a time period of one month for the same.

A probate from the competent court of law in case of unregistered wills will be required from the individual, so that after the transfer of share/membership no dispute may arise.

In case of the GPA, will and sub-power of attorney (SPA) executed in the name of more than one person, they shall be considered for transfer in their name subject to the condition that the share certificate shall be issued in their joint names but the person whose name stands first in the share certificate shall alone will have the right to vote.

After the transfer policy, a large number of GPA holders had complained that the managements were circumventing the policy by demanding “illegal fee” apart from the charges imposed by the administration.

The administration had fixed Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 15,000 as transfer charges for category A, category B and category C flats.

In case of sub-GPA, double transfer fee will be charged from sub-GPA holder who holds valid GPA from the original member.

The cooperation department has forwarded the matter to the finance department (FD) for its concurrence and after which the matter will be referred to the UT Administrator for final approval.

Demanding early framing of the modified GPA transfer policy, Satish C Sharma, general secretary of the Chandigarh Social Welfare Council, hoped that it would go a long way in mitigating the sufferings of the GPA holders.

Chandigarh, September 14
In two separate hit-and-run mishaps, twseparateo persons were killed here today. Rajinder Kumar, a 52-year-old resident of Dappar village, was killed near the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, here this morning.

The police said Rajinder was crossing the road opposite the GMCH-32 when a motorcycle hit him. He was seriously wounded in the accident and was rushed to the GMCH-32.

The doctors declared him brought dead and his body was shifted to the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, where his post-mortem would be conducted tomorrow.

Additional SHO of the Sector 34 police station, Poonam Dilawari, said: “A case has been registered and investigations are on to nab the motorcyclist.”

Meanwhile, in another incident, Satish Kumar a retired head constable of Punjab police was killed in a road accident here today.

The police said Satish, a resident of Sector 44, was in his 60s and a speeding truck hit him near sectors 51-52 roundabout at 9 pm.

Anokh Singh, SHO of the Sector 36 police station, said: “The truck driver sped away after the accident and a case has been registered against the unidentified truck driver.”

A cyclist was hit by a truck near Colony No. 5 at 10 pm. The cyclist was seriously wounded and was rushed to the hospital.

Till the filing of the report, the condition of victim was critical and was admitted to the hospital.

The police said the truck driver was arrested from the spot and a case had been registered in this regard.

Chandigarh, September 14
This year’s World Tourism Day celebrations will focus on two popular tourist landmarks of the city — Sukhna Lake and Sector-17 plaza. This was stated during a meeting held under the chairmanship of UT Home Secretary Ram Niwas here today.

The celebrations on September 27 will commence with “Sur-Nandan” (morning raga), an Indian classical and fusion music programme by renowned artist Subhash Ghosh,at the Sukhna Lake promenadeat 5.30 am.

A morning tourism walk from Open Hand Monument (Capitol Complex) to Rose Garden, Sector-16, through Bougainvillaea Garden, will be held at 7 am.

Also, tourists/visitors arriving by morning Shatabdi Express will be accorded a warm welcome by students of the Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management, Sector 42.

At 10.30 am, a painting competition on tourism will be organised at Sukhna Lake. The competition will encompass the tourist spots of the city.

CITCO will extend 15 per cent discount on food at its two hotels — Mountview and Shivalikview.

Also, 10 per cent discount on food will be extended to tourists at Hotel Parkview and other food outlets and restaurants of CITCO in the city.

CITCO will provide complimentary ride on its popular “Hop-On, Hop-Off” tourist coach to children, including under-privileged kids, to make them part of mainstream activities on the World Tourism Day.

An “antakshari” programme with participation of people from all walks of life will be organised at CITCO Chef Lake Cafeteria from 5 pm to 6.30 pm.

An open programme for merriment and fun with DJ for tourists and public will be held at Sukhna Lake from 7 pm till 9.30 pm.

On the eve of World Tourism Day i.e September 26, a musical evening will be organised by the Tourism Department at the Sector-17 plaza from 6 pm onwards.

Chandigarh, September 14
Three more cases of swine flu suspects, including two students from local schools, were reported here today. Nodal officer HC Gera said the two Class VI students, who tested positive for swine flu, were studying in Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, and Delhi Public School, Sector 40.

In addition to them, a 30-year-old man from Phase VII, Mohali, is also suspected of swine flu.

While the patient from Mohali was admitted to the PGI, the two students were sent home and their families were quarantined, Gera added.

Meanwhile, with the increasing number of suspected cases of swine flu in the Bhawan Vidyalaya, the panic has gripped the students and parents alike. Condemning the management’s decision of not closing the school even after four confirmed cases, most of the parents have stopped sending their kids to school themselves. However, the most perturbed are the parents of Class XII students as according to one of them, “They had suspended all sections, from which a confirmed case had come, but in case of Class XII, they are asking students to come to school or face the consequences of short attendance. Being in a board class, we cannot take a risk.”

Though as per the WHO recommendations, the school, in such a situation, must close down immediately, but neither the school authorities nor the education department seem to be in a mood to comply with the same.

Chandigarh, September 14
Air Marshal PV Athawale, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Maintenance Command, arrived on a two-day official visit to No. 3 Base Repair Depot (BRD) here today. He is accompanied by his wife, Neelima, President of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional).

Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command, Air Marshal PV Athawale being introduced to senior officers on his arrival at 3 Base Repair Depot in Chandigarh on Monday. A Tribune photograph

The Air Marshal inspected various sections of the depot and reviewed the ongoing modernisation and the indigenisation of aero-spares being undertaken here. A presentation on the status of various projects was made by the Air Officer Commanding, 3 BRD, Air Cmde Ravinder Sharma.

The Maintenance Command chief stressed upon the need to become self-reliant and ensuring reliability in aircraft maintenance and production. He also gave tips for efficient management of the helicopter overhaul line. Appreciating the Herculean efforts put in by 3 BRD personnel in achieving the allotted tasks, he also emphasised the need to improve the quality of life of IAF personnel.

This is his first visit to 3 BRD since taking over as AOC-in-C in April this year. An electrical engineering graduate from the University of Roorkee and a postgraduate in computer science from IIT, Kharagpur, he was commissioned in July, 1973.

Besides being the Chief Engineering Officer of a MiG-21 base, he has pioneered software initiatives in the Air Force. In 1992, he established IAF’s Software Development Institute at Bangalore and has steered vital projects of the Integrated Air Command and Control Systems.

Chandigarh, September 14
In a communication to Home Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana, UT Home Secretary Ram Niwas today communicated that no rally, dharna or demonstration will be allowed at the roundabout of Sectors 16 and 17 (Matka Chowk).

Referring to a Punjab and Haryana High Court directive, he said: “The administration has designated Sector 25 as the rally ground for rallies, dharnas and demonstrations. Recently, chaos prevailed in the city and certain demonstrators and protesters of the Bharti Kisan Union and PSEB employees ran amuck when they marched up to Sector 16 without having any valid permission to hold rally even at Sector 25.”

The Home Secretary said in future “no rallies, dharnas or demonstrations will be held at any other place, except designated ground in Sector 25. Demonstrators, without written permission, will be stopped at the entry point and will not be allowed to enter”.

The Home Secretary has urged the neighbouring states to make adequate arrangements for initiating steps to intercept the movement of invalid demonstrations so that they did not enter Chandigarh.

The step had been taken as it not only created law and order problems but also led to traffic hazard.

Chandigarh, September 14
Members of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), Punjab, today met with the OSD to Punjab Chief Minister regarding their demands here today.

Rajesh Mohan, general secretary of the NFB, said, “The meeting has been fixed with Punjab Chief Minister on September 18 to talk on their issue regarding one per cent reservation and recruitment of visually handicapped persons in various departments of Punjab Government.”

Rajesh also said a large number of NFB activists had been rounded-up, when they had tried to demonstrate at Sector 17 today.

However, Ramesh Chander, SHO at the Sector-17 police station, said when the protesters had started to gather at Sector 17, they were rounded up and released later. But their leaders were allowed to go and meet the senior officials of Chief Minister office.

Mohali, September 14
A state-level exercise to review the powers delegated to estate officers and the lower staff in various local development authorities, including the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), has been initiated.

Describing it a people-friendly move, officials in the Punjab housing and development department said the review would enable the chief administrators of different development authorities to streamline, relocate and divide workload between respective estate officer and assistant estates officers.

To review the progress made, PUDA Chief Administrator VP Singh held a meeting with officials concerned here today.

Various issues relating to the functioning of the estate office and computerisation of office records were discussed.

Sources in the estate office said though certain powers had been delegated to assistant estate officers and the lower staff, file moved through the Estate Officer before being approved.

A review of the time limit fixed for permission of sale after conveyance deed, permission to transfer plot, change of ownership, issue of permission to mortgage, sanction of building plans, sewerage connection, permission to occupy a building and other public-related works was also being done.

GMADA was also undertaking computerisation of the entire record (around 60,000 files) pertaining to the ownership of sites.

The computerisation would enable monitoring of officers to obtain computer-generated reports, curtailing the dealing time.

Property owners will be able to see the account statement of their property on the website of the estate office.

The computerisation software has already been prepared. The exercise also includes scanning of the entire record.

Mohali, September 14
Shopkeepers of Sector 70 market, along the Sohana road, have blamed the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for false propaganda about the basic amenities in the market while announcing auction of commercial sites later this month.

Potholes in Sector 70 market greet visitors next to the sites being put under hammer by GMADA. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

For the past nine years, when the last auction of commercial sites was held, the authority has not been able to provide roads and other amenities, said JP Singh, a shopkeeper. The parking in front of showrooms is full of potholes. Wild growth has taken over the roadside of the showrooms.

At times, the sewerage line gets blocked and nobody listens for days together. Development and maintenance of the market is caught between GMADA and Mohali MC.

The affected shopkeepers were in for a shock when they found the Additional Chief Administrator of GMADA in a communication to the MC stated that since the area had been transferred to the latter, the maintenance was their job.

“It is ridiculous that GMADA collects crores of rupees during auctions. When it comes to maintenance, it washes off its hands,” said another shopkeeper.

Panchkula, September 14
Following the shell explosion which claimed three lives at the Ambedkar Colony, the police questioned Ram Janam, a scrap dealer and a grocery store owner, near whose shop the shell exploded here yesterday.

The family members of the deceased, Hari Chand and Pardeep, alleged that it was wife of Ram Janam who called the two boys to her home and might had given the shell to them for extracting its metal. However, nothing could be found which could prove that he was behind the incident, said sources.

Meanwhile, the district police has decided to initiate search drive of such shells and spread awareness among the slum dwellers as well as junk dealers about the risks involved in dealing with these deadly weapons.

Superintendent of Police Amitabh Dhillon has already asked his men to contact the junk dealers and prominent people in slums for the purpose. The help of a local NGO would also be sought, said Dhillon.

A list of junk dealers working in the district would be prepared to keep the track of such weapons. Police officers had been asked to warn these junk dealers not to purchase metal, which was extracted from bombshells, he added.

Meanwhile, the Panchkula DC has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the bombshell blast case.

Chandigarh , September 14
The Department of Hindi, government college, Sector 46 celebrated Hindi Divas today by organising poetry, short story and essay writing competition in the college premises. 

Students with their prizes during Hindi Diwas celebrations at the language department in Patiala on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Subjects of essays were Youth and Drugs, Astrology and Modern Man, Rashtriya Bhasha Hindi, Advantages and Disadvantages of Cell Phone. Students of BA (1),BA (II) and BA (III) participated in the competition. Dr Sukhdev Singh Minhas said Hindi had not got its due as Raj Bhasha of the country due to policies of the government. Nelam Rekhi head, Department of Hindi stressed Hindi be made job- oriented to popularise it . Dr K S Saluja Principal of the college advised students to feel proud of learning and speaking Hindi.

Dept of Hindi

The department of Hindi, Panjab University, organised Hindi Diwas today. Each year September 14 is celebrated, as Hindi Diwas all over India and it is also the birthday of Raj Rishi Purshotam Das Tondon.

A recitation contest was also held in which preference was given to original poetry. The event was presided by Dr Virendera Mehendiratta.

One of the judges Prof Atulvir Arora remarked that selection of poetry was as much important as its recitation. He also gave sveral suggestions regard recitation. Results: 1st Karan Mirag, English department, PU, 2nd Payal Rana, CSA department, PU and 3rd Poonam, English department, PU.

Consolation prize: Rupal Gautum, psychology department, PU.

PKR Jain College

Ambala: Hindi Day was celebrated in various educational institutions of Ambala with great enthusiasm today. A declamation and slogan writing competition was organised in PKR Jain College of Education.

In the declamation contest, Alka stood first while Manju and Anuradha secured second and third place, respectively. While Rubi was declared first in slogan writing, Meenu and Mridula got second and third place, respectively.

Mudita Bhatnagar, principal of the college, said Hindi was our national language and its importance could not be ignored.

DAV College

DAV College organised a poetic recitation and declamation contest on this occasion. Abdhesh, Shilpa and Sweta got first, second and third position, respectively, in poetic recitation while in declamation contest Namrta was declared first. Jasbir got second position while Gitika stood third. Principal JS Nain urged the students to promote Hindi as it was our national language.

This refers to the City Scope “Money and arrogance” (September 7) by Raveen Thukral. Through the article Mr Thukral has brought out some of the major ills in the society. Students who indulge in violence have nothing of their own except for family’s wealth, name and fame.

The writer has suggested that they should not get any patronage and should face the law as a common man.

He has suggested the overhauling of the system. It is only the political will of our leaders to tackle the ills in the society or leave it to God and wait for the God to solve the problems.

Chandigarh, September 14
Students of the Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology (CCET), Sector 26, here today blocked the college entrance to protest against the unhygienic food conditions in the hostel mess and lack of infrastructure.

The students expressed their disappointment over the lack of interest shown by the college authorities in the past over the sorry state of hostel infrastructure and the mess food in two boys’ hostel and one girls’ hostel attached to the college.

“The condition in the hostels is very bad. Right from cleanliness to water supply, the students suffer at each step for survival in the hostels. We have submitted a list of complaints to the Principal and are waiting for the authorities to take some concrete action,” said Pulkit, a student of the college.

From 8:30 am, students sat on a dharna at the college entrance till 2 pm when the authorities intervened and held a meeting of senior faculty members to resolve the issue.

“These issues have been brought to the notice of the authorities several times, but in vain. Broken taps and doors in washrooms, poor sanitation, poor maintenance of lawn etc is a common site,” echoed another student sitting on dharna.

Reacting to the situation, the college Principal, Dr B.S. Pabla, called a meeting of senior faculty members and hostel wardens. “We have renewed the contract of the mess, and from October 1, the new contractor will take over. We have given instructions to the hostel mess to follow hygiene conditions strictly,” said the Principal.

However, the students’ statements contradicted the claims of the college authorities, who said the contract had been given to the same person again, who had been running the mess in the past.

The college authorities have assured the students of timely action in the matter within 10 days.

Chandigarh, September 14
Dr Rajinder K Singla during a press conference at Press Club here today alleged that the authorities of DAV College, Sector-10, had arbitrarily removed him.

Singla claimed that that he had been in the college for over two years and was removed from the college by the principal without any reasons. He also questioned the continuous pattern of arbitrary removal of teachers from the college by the authorities. He claimed that when he sought information under the RTI from the authorities, it led to arbitrary removal of other lecturers also.

However, nullifying his claims in a statement issued by the principal of the college BC Josan, he said: “Prof Singla was working on a temporary grant in botany department of the college. Now the post has been advertised as a regular post. According to rules, Singla was relieved with one month’s notice. Now he is a candidate for the permanent post. Everything is being done as per rules.”

Banur, September 14
Shaheed Udham Singh Group of Institutions organised a joint campus placement for technical branches of the Navy under the University Entry Scheme (UES) for final year engineering students.

250 candidates were interviewed in the two-day drive. About 55 students from eight different colleges and about 200 students from SUS College of Engineering & Technology, Tangori, besides three other colleges, were also interviewed. — TNS

Chandigarh, September 14
Students of BEd stream (four year integrated BA- BEd course), Panjab University, today staged a protest outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

Students claimed that they had failed to clear their examination following the negligence of the authorities, as nearly 60 per cent of the question paper was out of syllabus. After they protested, the matter was sent to the board, which had decided to grant grace marks to students. When the result was out, all students had got compartments. — TNS

Workshop at PU
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 14
A basic training workshop on “Quantitative Methods & Techniques in Social Science Research” organised by the ICSSR North-Western Regional Centre, was inaugurated by Prof RC Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, at the ICSSR complex here today.

Nearly 50 teachers and research scholars from all over the North-West India are participating in the training workshop.

The inauguration of the workshop began with the welcome address of Prof Bhupinder Brar, director of the regional centre. He highlighted the importance of such training workshops.