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Cabinet defers decision on ‘land pooling’
Conservator of forests told to check felling
Power Tariff Hike
Power Tariff Hike |
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Yuva Drishti 2009
Rajiv Gandhi varsity of law
Bus Pass Issue
Tributes paid to HS Brar
Death of Jail Inmate
2 new breaches in Ghaggar
Essential Commodities Act: 2,500 bags of sugar seized
‘Bid’ to attack cops
Court fee hike put off
Excise Dept detects Rs 350 cr tax evasion
12 diarrhoea cases in Dirba village
PSEB invites bids for coal blocks
Hike in court fee withheld
Tehsildar Attack Case
HC talks tough on erring nursing institutes
Man’s death due to ‘ill-treatment’
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Cabinet defers decision on ‘land pooling’
Chandigarh, September 16 The issue, which came up for discussion during a cabinet meet today, had to be deferred because of a difference of opinion between the politicians and bureaucrats, with the latter suggesting that if pooling of land were to be allowed with retrospective effect, it would make the government liable to pay compensation of Rs 45,000 crore. After the cabinet failed to reach a consensus, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked it to defer the issue till the matter is studied in detail. Farmers whose land was acquired in 2003 to develop Sectors 76 to 80 by GMADA are asking the government to extend the current policy on acquisition to them as well. It is estimated that if this is allowed, in Mohali alone, the government would have to give additional compensation of Rs 4,500 crore. The impact of allowing “land pooling” would adversely affect the government’s stand in courts and make it shell out Rs 45,000 crore compensation. Land owners of Sector 81, where the knowledge city and IT centre is to come, have also joined others in demanding “land pooling”. Meanwhile, several other decisions were later taken including promulgation of Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Ordinance, 2009, which provides for regulation of travel agents in a bid to check organised human trafficking; and amending the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, for enhancement of the period of suppression of Market Committees, thereby extending the time limit from May 18, 2007, to December 31, 2009, for reconstitution of superseded committees. Other decisions approved included a nod for renaming the Punjab Ayurved University, Hoshiarpur, as Guru Ravi Dass Ayurved University; filling up 613 posts of staff nurses and nine posts of radiographers in the Government Medical Colleges; revival of six posts of professors, four readers and 21 lecturers in different departments of Government Ayurvedic College, Patiala. Approval to fill up 98 posts of Assistant District Attorneys on contract and 118 on regular basis was also given. The Council of Ministers also expressed profound grief on the demise of former Punjab Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar and renowned American agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug - father of the “Green Revolution”.
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Conservator of forests told to check felling
Chandigarh, September 16 The directions by the Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia follow a public interest litigation
(PIL) by one Basakha Singh Ghunas. The Bench asserted: “Vehicular traffic has increased manifold over the last few years. To cater to this increase, necessity arose to install and operate petrol pumps and fuel stations on national/state highways and other link roads.” “Trees planted many years ago and in existence to provide shade and absorb pollution on these roads have been chopped off with impunity so that ingress and outgress is available to newly established petrol stations. To ward off depletion of forest cover and cutting of trees, the Ministry of Environment and Forests issued instructions on July 15, 2004, stating that no two fuel stations shall be allowed within a distance of 5 km. In case this norm cannot be adhered to, there shall be a common entry and exits subject to the condition that it should not cause loss of forest cover or felling of trees.” “The present writ petition has been filed for enforcement of the instructions/guidelines issued by the ministry…. The grievance of the petitioner is that for establishment of Bharat Petroleum outlet at Handiaya village, Barnala district, at the
Barnala-Bathinda national highway from Handiaya Chowk to Tapa Chowk, large-scale felling of trees has taken place in violation of the guidelines.” After hearing rival contentions, the Bench asserted there was no illegal felling, and added: “We are inclined to believe and trust the official respondents who have been assigned the duty to preserve ecological balance, save and take care of forest land….
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SAD-BJP panel formed
Jangveer Singh Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 16 Following a two and a half hours meeting, the alliance coordination committee nominated a committee comprising Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia, veteran BJP leader Balramji Das Tandon and SAD secretary-general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. While the first two will be the government nominees in the committee, Tandon and Dhindsa will be the party nominees. The committee has also been given the duty of conducting a rationalisation exercise to mop up additional funds for the PSEB besides looking for further resource mobilisation to improve the financial health of the state. According to sources, it was realised that there was a difference of perception between the two parties regarding the issue of tariff hike and how it should be implemented. After lengthy discussions, it was decided to refer the issue to the committee. Senior BJP leader Tandon said the party was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. Industries Minister Kalia said the party had only conveyed the sentiments of its legislators to its alliance partner. He said the legislators had earlier at a meeting during the day reiterated that the entire power hike of Rs 1,296 crore should be borne by the government, as it would be unfair to burden only one section of society. Though no time frame has been fixed for the committee to reach its decision, it will have to be fast. The state government, which is bound to take a decision on the tariff order, has already delayed its implementation by not taking up the issue in today’s Cabinet meeting, following the protest lodged by the BJP. BJP general secretary and state party in charge Balbir Punj, state president Rajinder Bhandari, Tandon, Madan Mohan Mittal and Navjot Singh Sidhu were among those who represented the BJP at the meeting. The SAD was represented by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.
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Mishap at unmanned level
crossing Anirudh Gupta
Ferozepur, September 16 The hit threw the tempo into the air and went to pieces after fall . The two persons travelling by the tempo (PB 04 L 9701) were coming from Sadiq and going to Vajidpur village, died before they could be taken to hospital. One was identified as Kuldeep Singh, of Kauni village in Faridkot district. The other could not be identified. Impact was such that rail engine also broke down, and the rail officials had to send another engine for the train. Officials of the Railways ,the GRP and the RPF also reached the spot and started probe into the incident.
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Yuva Drishti 2009 Kanchan Vasdev Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, September 16 The village, Ghanie ki Bet in Dera Baba Nanak block, was discussed as a typical victim of political vendetta, where the benefits of the atta-dal scheme of the state government did not reach the poor families. Since the village voted for the Congress, the white cards that make the BPL families eligible for the schemes were confiscated by the village sarpanch before the elections. He did not return these as the village returned the Congress in the panchayat elections. In yet another case, it was discussed how a Kargil martyr and his memorial became a political issue. Lance Naik Ramandeep Singh of Padde village of Gurdaspur lost his life at 21 while fighting infiltrators in the Kargil sector in 2004. Since Punjab was ruled by the Congress in 2004, it allotted a piece of the panchayat land for erecting a memorial of the martyr at Padde village. Since his father, Kahsmir Singh, is a Congress worker, the ruling SAD-BJP combine threatened to demolish the memorial calling it an encroachment. His father moved from pillar to post. When the government failed to oblige, he took up the matter with Punjab Regiment officers, who then took it up with the Centre. He somehow managed to get the move stalled, but the administration ruled that no fair would be organised at the site in the memory of the martyr. But the common people cocked a snook at the orders and the fair is being organised every year. On August 18 this year, 3,000 persons from different parts of the state came to Padde village to pay homage to the martyr. The resource persons including Vijay Mahajan and Dr Somnath Ghosh asked the youth leaders to work on different strategies to overcome “excesses” by the ruling party and help the common man.
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Staff continue to be ‘temporary’ since 2006
Chitleen K Sethi Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 16 Though university authorities point out these appointments were made following authorisation by the University’s council, it seems little was done to fill these posts on permanent basis through advertisements. In response to the RTI application, the University informed Arora 53 persons had been appointed from August 2006 to September 2008 without advertising the posts. Following a resolution passed by the university’s executive council authorising the VC to make appointments several lecturers, associate professors and even professors were appointed without inviting applications for these posts. In many other cases the mandatory qualification of the lecturer having cleared the UGC NET was overlooked. Many posts on the non-teaching side were filled on contract without advertising ‘,” said Arora. Arora added for the appointment of sweepers and peons, it seems no criteria was laid down. Perusal of the qualifications laid down for the post of sweepers states, “applicant should be energetic having two years’ experience in government or semi government department and should not be more than 40 years in age.” While no education qualification was listed for this post, in some cases even the work experience was overlooked. ‘The information also pointed out a driver with invalid licence was employed while a peon was appointed who did not have middle pass certificate in Punjabi,” said Arora. The university began functioning in September 2006, but its recruitment rules are yet to be framed. The general council of the university laid down recruitment policy only this year in July. “The detailed service rules would be put at the next meeting of the executive council,” said GIS Sandhu, Registrar of the university. He added all those who were employed on temporary basis in the three years have fixed terms. As and when these posts start falling vacant these posts would be filled afresh according to the new rules.
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Irate students burn govt’s effigy PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service
Amritsar, September 16 The police sealed the ITI College to prevent students from participating in the protest at Dr Kitchlew Chowk. Earlier, there was heavy deployment of police personnel at the Hall Gate area and Ranjit Avenue ground, where the students were to gather before marching to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The protesters demanded immediate release of the state general secretary Dharminder Patra and five others, who were booked under various sections of the IPC for blocking traffic on September 9 to press for the demand that passes of students be allowed in private buses as well. Karm Sekhan, finance secretary of the Union, pointed out that students and their leaders were not terrorists and should not have been booked under attempt to murder charges. He said it was a clear case of police high-handedness and warned that the stir would be intensified if their demands were not met. Meanwhile, the protesters burnt an effigy near Ranjit Avenue Park and raised slogans against the state government. They also handed over a memorandum to the DSP leading the police team. Sangrur: Students here also resorted to widespread protests against the arrest of their leaders and demanded concessional bus pass facility. They also burnt the effigies of the Punjab government at various places in the district. District president of the PSU Kulwinder Singh Sekha said effigies were burnt outside the Akal Degree College, Mastuana Sahib, Government ITI, Sunam, and Government College, Malerkotla.
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Tributes paid to HS Brar
Sarai Naga (Muktsar) September 16 Weather remained fickle in the day with morning clouds, which hung over the venue, giving way to scorching afternoon sun. Union ,state ministers and former chief ministers attended the ceremony . Former Faridkot MP Jagmeet Brar was first to arrive. The Punjab Chief Minister landed in chopper on makeshift helipad 100 metres from where the ceremony was held . He sat for three hours and spoke at the end of ceremony terming H S Brar an " institution". Badal also recalled how H S Brar had three new districts - Muktsar, Moga and Nawashahr carved out during his tenure as Chief Minister. He urged Brar’s widow and former MP Gurbinder Kaur Brar to think about a memorial in Brar’s memory for which he promised funds. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh arrived and sat two feet from Parkash Singh Badal but had no eye contact with him during the ceremony The stage was occupied by members of the Brar family and other politicians. Guru Granth Sahib was also placed there. Minister of State for External Affairs and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur arrived early. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, spoke in Hindi about his association with the Brar family.Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was also there. A letter of condolence from AICC president Sonia Gandhi was read out by R K Dhawan, former political secretary to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The ceremony ended with Rasam Pagri with Brar’s son and Muktsar MLA Sunny Brar being handed over a turban by his in- laws. Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, AICC general secretary Mohsina Kidwai, Rana Gurmeet Sodhi, former MP Rana Gurjit Singh, former ministers Gurchet Singh Bhullar and Lal Singh, Vinod Sharma, MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee, SAD secretary- general S S Dhindsa who accompanied the Punjab CM in chopper were among the the dignitaries present . Akali leaders led by Rozy Barkandi, Managing Director Muktsar Co-operative Bank were also present. Former Paksitan Minister Syed Babbar Ali, who recalled his 70 -year -old association with Brar, also came from Lahore to pay respects to "noble soul", he addressed Brar in speech.
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Probe indicts authorities Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 16 The probe was ordered after Justice SD Anand of the Punjab and Haryana High Court took a suo motu cognisance of media reports on Jaskaran Singh alias Jassa’s death. A resident of Bhagi Vandar village in Bathinda, he was serving a 10-year sentence in an attempt to murder case. The report, placed before Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia, has asserted: “There was a sheer negligence on the part of Dr Raj Kumar of the Bathinda Central Jail in not giving treatment to Jaskaran when he came to him and when he was lying on the bed in the jail hospital on September 3 and 4.” It added, “It was further found that Dr SK Raj Kumar and his pharmacist, Kulraj Singh, demanded money from the patient for referring him to the Civil Hospital; and the evidence is there that Sarabjit Kaur, Jaskaran’s sister, was compelled to cough out Rs 2,500 on September 4 by a jail official for payment to the doctor”. The report has added: “It was also found that there was negligence on the part of the jail administration in exercising proper supervision over activities in the jail hospital. Kaur Singh, Deputy Superintendent, Bathinda Central Jail, failed to exercise proper supervision and send the patient to the civil hospital on time even when the matter was brought to his notice.” It has also indicted Bathinda medical hospital’s medical officer Dr Parmod Kumar for taking the “matter very casually”.
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2 new breaches in Ghaggar
Sangrur, September 16 One breach occurred near Moonak and another near Makror Sahib village. Owing to the two breaches, water entered standing crops in the nearby villages, leading to losses to farmers. A 15-foot-wide breach occurred last night near Moonak. The breach was some yards away from the one which occurred near Moonak three days ago but was plugged the same day. Last night’s breach was today plugged by farmers with the help of the administrative machinery. A breach about 40 ft wide, which occurred last night near Makror Sahib village, was also only several yards away from the 150-foot-wide breach which was plugged by farmers and the administration last evening. Owing to this new breach in the Ghaggar water entered standing crops this evening in five villages--- Moonak, Phuld, Surjan Bhaini, Salemgarh and Makror Sahib. Moonak SDM R.P.S. Walia said there was no additional loss to the crops in the five villages as the water was entering the same fields. He said the plugging of the breach continued till this evening and the work would continue at night. He said a breach of about 25 ft was yet to be plugged and expressed the hope that volunteers would be able to plug it by till late tonight. According to a preliminary assessment, water has entered standing crops on more than 3,000 acres in five
villages. Crops have also been submerged on a large number of acres. Meanwhile, the river has started
receding. The water touched the gauge at the 748 ft mark at RD-460 at Khanauri this evening.
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Essential Commodities Act: 2,500 bags of sugar seized
Jalandhar, September 16 Maninder Singh Sidhu, naib tehsildar, Jalandhar-1, who accompanied the raiding party as a Duty Magistrate, said, “On a tip-off, we raided the godowns belonging to this firm and found 2,500 bags of sugar. There were obscure exit points in the godown, which led to another godown that stocked approximately 1,100 bags of sugar. The owners didn’t reveal the existence of the obscure godown during our raid; that proves that they had hidden the stock.” The Union Government has fixed the upper stock limit of 2,000 quintals only, said the officials. They showed copies of the notification issued in this regard by the government authorities concerned. The owners of the company claimed that these godowns belonged to two different companies.
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Judicial remand for workers
Our Correspondent
Tarn Taran, September 16 It is learnt that those arrested include Pargat Singh Jamarai, Jaspal Singh Shillon, Master Daljit Singh Dialpur, Baldev Singh Pandori, Dara Singh, Charanjit Singh Bath, Sulakhan Singh, Balbir Sood and Nirmal Singh. A case under Sections 452, 307, 353, 323, 427, 148, 149 of the IPC has been registered against the workers at the city police station. SSP Sukhdev Singh Brar, while justifying the move, stated that the aggressive workers tried to gain forced entry to the deputy commissioner’s office because of which the police had to take stringent action.
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Court fee hike put off
Chandigarh, September 16 A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister at a meeting with a deputation of representatives of the Bar Council, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and District Bar Associations from all over the state led by the Chairman, Bar Council, B.K. Goyal here. The Chief Minister also constituted a committee comprising the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, and five members of the Bar Council to examine the issue and give a proposal to the government for moderating the increase to a reasonable level. The deputation also apprised the Chief Minister of the implications of the recent hike in the judicial stamp fee and the resentment among the legal fraternity, which had led to a statewide strike by lawyers.
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Excise Dept detects Rs 350 cr tax evasion
Mandi Gobidngarh/ Khanna, September 16 Officials led the Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner checked New Mahadev Industry , Khanna, DC Alloys, AR Alloys and LR Alloys of Mandi Gobindgarh. Rishi Pal Singh AETC, Ludhiana said it was one of the biggest tax evasion detected so far in Punjab. ‘Following scrutiny of Income Tax returns and other papers of these firms , we have detected a tax evasion Rs 350 crore’, he said. These units , mainly deal in steel and iron, were evading tax for a few months. Raiding officials said so far they had detected irregularity Rs 1500 crore in transaction from Ludhiana only in just few days.
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12 diarrhoea cases in Dirba village
Sangrur, September 16 However, senior medical officer (SMO) of Kauhrian Primary Health Centre (PHC) Dr Bhupinder Pal Singh Gill said only nine suspected diarrhoea patients visited the mini PHC at Dirba and the PHC at Kauhrian today. According to reports, diarrhoea spread in the colony due to contaminated water and unhygienic conditions. Gill said eight suspected diarrhoea patients had been sent back after treatment while one of has been admitted to the Kauhrian PHC.
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PSEB invites bids for coal blocks
Patiala, September 16 In his welcome address Sra said many companies showed interest in forming joint venture company with the PSEB but the most suitable company based on merits shall only be selected. Brar said the PSEB has got coal linkages of 13.2 million metric tonnes from the Ministry of Coal for 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Project and 1320 MW Rajpura Thermal Power Project. But since board has ambitious plans to expand its generation capacity with 2640 MW Gidderbaha Thermal Power Project and 500 MW extension of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda, so more coal is required.
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Hike in court fee withheld
Chandigarh, September 16 In an affidavit placed before Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Kanwaljit Singh
Ahluwalia, Financial Commissioner (revenue) Romilla Dubey said the Chief Minister had directed the department concerned to re-examine the issue and put before the government a proposal to bring court fee to a reasonable level. The CM had also directed the exercise in this regard be completed at the earliest.
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Tehsildar Attack Case Rajneesh Lakhanpal
Ludhiana, September 16 Eight other persons who have been charge-sheeted include Kamaljit Singh Karwal, sacked SAD councillor Gurpreet Singh, Sarabjit Singh, Jaspreet Singh alias Sahil, Roopinder Singh alias Honey, Satnam Singh, Ravi Sharma and Jasbir Singh alias Jassa. All of them have been behind bars for long. Taking cognisance of the charge sheet, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate J P S Wehniwal has ordered to produce all the accused before his court on September 24. The police informed the court nine persons had been charge-sheeted, whereas 31 accused in the case were still missing. He said separate proceedings for declaring them proclaimed offenders had already been initiated. The police has cited 22 witnesses. There were three eye-witnesses, namely Paramjit Singh, Chetan and Jasbir Singh cited in the list of witnesses. The rest of the witnesses were officials except the complainant, Major Benipal. Bains and six other accused were declined bail by Additional Sessions Judge Munish Singal on September 10. A case under Sections 353, 186, 332, 333, 307, 394, 148, 149, 120-B of the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act was registered at the Sadar police station on the day of the incident on June 19.
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HC talks tough on erring nursing institutes
Chandigarh, September 16 On two petition against the state of Punjab and other respondents, the Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia asserted: “An advertisement shall be published by the Indian Nursing Council in national and vernacular dailies at the cost of institutions, which have been given relaxation, to make the students aware that after the lapse of period of relaxation, nursing institution will be closed in case remedial measures are not undertaken and building in consonance with the mandatory guidelines is not possessed.” “This advertisement shall also contain a cut-off date, on which the approval shall be withdrawn from these colleges in case they fail to have requisite infrastructure, building and teaching staff as per the guidelines. The Indian Nursing Council shall also take into consideration interest of the students and shall stipulate the date, from which fresh intake of the students will be denied to the erring institutes, which lack necessary building, infrastructure and teaching staff.” Speaking for the Bench, Justice Ahluwalia asserted: “The Indian Nursing Council should ensure that the rigour of the periodical inspection is maintained and the institutions do not survive only on relaxation. The Indian Nursing Council shall also explore the possibility of making the institutions/colleges approved
by it compliant to the CGPA system introduced by the National Assessment
Accreditation Council.”
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Man’s death due
to ‘ill-treatment’ Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 17 The story said Bakar Singh had been visiting the office of the district social welfare officer, Ferozepur for several months to collect cheque under the Shagun Scheme for the wedding of his daughter solemnised on February 22, 2009. Bakar Singh had borrowed money for the marriage of daughter.
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Two persons died on the spot when Ahmedabad- bound Jammu Tawi Express (9224) hit a tempo at unmanned level crossing (C-51), near Kasu Begu village, 20 km from here at4. 30 pm today.
