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Assembly Polls
Seven throw hat in the ring
Our Correspondent

Bhagat Singh, an Independent, with his supporters after filing his papers at Kalka on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Kalka, September 25
On the last day of filing of nominations for assembly elections in Haryana, seven candidates today filed their nomination papers.

Returning officer Yogesh Kumar, SDM, Kalka, said Ram Gopal Mehta of the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) and Ramphal of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) filed their nominations.

Meanwhile, Bhagat Singh, Virender Bhau, Narinder Nath, Amit Kumar Sharma and Sugan Chand were among the candidates, who filed their nomination papers as independent candidates.

He further added that BJP candidate Virender Singh submitted his Form-A and Form-B oath ticket issued by his party president, which he was asked to submit today till 3pm.

Scrutiny would be conducted on September 26. After the scrutiny, final list of the candidates would be issued.

Show of strength

Bhagat Singh, an independent candidate, who was said to be main claimant of Congress’ ticket, today showed up his strength. Before filing of nominations, a meeting was organised at Anaj Mandi in Kalka, which was attended by large number of his supporters from Kalka, Pinjore and its adjacent Doon, Raitan area. In the form of procession, Bhagat Singh, with thousands of his supporters, reached SDM office to file his nominations.

Nomination delayed

The nomination of Ram Gopal Mehta, candidate of Haryana Janhit Congress, was delayed for more than two hours today due to the non-availability of “Notary” (advocate) in Kalka tehsil, who was supposed to attest the required documents. Ram Gopal Mehta said when he had reached SDM office today around 12 pm, he found no notary in the tehsil office. Nomination papers were filed around 2.40 pm after the notary was brought from Panchkula court.

Patiala, September 25
Students of various colleges here shut the gate of the local bus stand for an hour this morning after a PRTC bus driver refused to allow them in despite valid passes.

The gate was opened only after the students were assured that such incidents wouldn’t happen again.

Students of Chitkara College, Swami Vivekananda College and Gian Sagar Medical College had boarded a bus that was on its way to Shimla around 7.30 am.

However, the driver refused to drive the bus and asked the students to alight. He asked them to take another bus, after students refused to buy tickets.

The students alleged that the driver told them that the bus would depart only after an hour. However, as soon as they alighted the bus, the driver drove it out of the bus stand.

Agitated students then shut the gate of the bus stand and demanded action against PRTC drivers who, they alleged, never stopped their buses to accommodate them.

Talking to The Tribune, a girl student said it was not something new. It was a daily affair and they had to suffer because of it.

“Boys somehow manage to reach their colleges but it is difficult for girls to travel like this. It’s strange that bus passes are issued when students are not allowed to board government buses. We have to take private buses and pay for tickets. It is expensive for students to spend almost Rs 40-50 every day just to reach the college. The PRTC must try to resolve this issue and instruct drivers to accommodate students with valid passes,” she added.

“Drivers often misbehave with us and use abusive language,” alleged another student.

Patiala, September 25
With a view to providing efficient bus service to its passengers, the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation has decided to induct another 110 buses into its existing fleet of 1,008 buses.

Talking to The Tribune here today, PRTC managing director Manvesh Singh Sidhu said of the 110 new buses, 75 would be ordinary, while another 35 buses would be air-conditioned.

Sidhu said the corporation had introduced smart ticketing machines in the Chandigarh depot and 
the experiment had 
proved successful.

At least 140 smart ticketing machines were being used in the Chandigarh depot and spurred by the success of the scheme, the PRTC had decided to introduce smart tickets in the Bathinda depot of the corporation.

He added that it was proposed to extend the scheme to other depots of the corporation in a phased manner, as these machines had helped plug loopholes in the system of issuing tickets to passengers.

Sidhu said the PRTC was negotiating a proposal with the Rajasthan government to introduce direct bus service between Patiala and Jaipur.

Talks were in advance stage and an agreement was likely to be signed shortly.

The managing director added that the PRTC was already plying buses on some long routes at night. Night bus service had been introduced on certain routes without police escort.

The corporation planned to put some buses on more routes when the new buses arrived.

Fatehgarh Sahib, September 25
Municipal Council president of Mandi Gobindgarh Dharampal Rao was caught stealing electricity today. He was fined Rs 1.35 lakh.

A team of officials from the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Patiala, raided a godown at Motia Khan Market on Amloh Road. The godown belongs to the MC president of Mandi Gobindgarh.

Officials of the board found that electricity of the office, situated adjoining the godown, was directly connected from the mail line illegally.

The direct supply of electricity was snapped and the wires used in the crime were also confiscated by the board officials. The officials said electricity would be restored only after paying the fine by the council president.

Interestingly, supporters of the council president refuted that electricity theft was detected in the godown and said the electricity department officials came to upgrade their power connection in the godown.

However, later on, they said a complaint was lodged by one of their rivals and the raid was conducted by a team of the electricity department.

The electricity department officials said the president had used two air conditioners in his office, using a kundi connection and had been stealing 4 KV electricity for the past some time.

The PSEB has launched the drive to detect electricity theft in Mandi Gobidngarh and awarded penalty to a large number people in nearby villages.

Mandi Gobidngarh XEN SC Munro confirmed that a fine of Rs 1.35 lakh had been imposed on the MC president. 

Patiala, September 25
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said a committee would be constituted to resolve the issue pertaining to the ongoing tussle for the post of mayor and president of various municipal corporations and municipal committees, respectively.

Speaking to mediapersons at the office of chairman of district planning board Surjit Singh Rakhra here this evening, Badal said the proposed committee would be constituted within a week and would submit its report in one month.

“The decision would be taken after the committee report is submitted,” he said.

Badal, however, didn’t specify the number of members who would be part of the committee.

He added that some differences were always there within political parties and it would be wrong to give much importance to such issues.

“If there is any problem with respect to the post of mayor, it will be resolved amicably,” Badal asserted.

At least 26 local SAD councillors had raised a banner of revolt against Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli recently.

On the recent disclosure by the police that Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) was behind the murder of Rulda Singh, state president of the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an affiliate of the RSS, and it might push Punjab back into terrorism, Badal said the state had its border with Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, because of which minor incidents keep occurring.

He, however, denied any possibility of revival of terrorism in the state. He also congratulated the police for cracking the murder case of Rulda Singh.

On the unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Badal said the matter was yet to be discussed in the state cabinet. “We are not going to take any decision in a hurry. The government will take a decision in the larger interest of the masses,” he stressed.

He, however, refused to comment on the issue of withdrawal of state subsidies.

Chandigarh, September 25
A local court today convicted a city-based rower, Raman Kalia, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder while acquitting him of charges of murder of his friend Ramesh Kaushik.

Though the court held him guilty under the Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, the quantum of sentence is likely to be pronounced on September 29.

Ramesh, then a resident of Sector 44, had reportedly gone to meet Raman in Sector 19 market along with another friend Deepak where Raman and Ramesh entered an argument.

Following this Raman pushed and hit Ramesh and the latter’s head hit the pavement. Deepak along with another friend took Ramesh to his parent’s place in Sector 19 where he eventually died.

Following his death, his friend Deepak lodged a complaint against him under Section 304 of the IPC, while the victim’s father lodged a complaint against him and three others, including under the Sections 302 and 120, IPC, in which all were acquitted today.

Chandigarh, September 25
A local court today rejected the bail plea of 20 protesters held for allegedly creating ruckus in the city during Kisan Rally held early this month.

These protesters were arrested on charges of attempt to murder, unlawful assembly and damaging public property during the protest by the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) and the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Employee Joint Forum against the privatisation of the board.

The protest led to violent clashes between the police and the protesters, leaving one dead and over 80 persons, including 34 police personnel, injured.

At least six vehicles, including two police trucks, were torched and many others damaged by the protesters in the violence that was unprecedented in the city.

Chandigarh, September 25
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has virtually passed strictures against Haryana Financial Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary (urban local bodies department), while setting aside his order directing Panchkula municipal council vice-president to perform the duties of the president.

The Bench of Justice MM Kumar and Justice Jaswant Singh ruled: It is evident the respondent by and while passing the impugned order dated July 3, has grossly misused and abused his position by assuming the powers not vested in him and we strongly deprecate the course adopted by the Financial Commissioner.

The strictures came on the petition filed by ousted president Ravinder Kumar Rawal. His election was challenged by VK Sood, filing an election petition, which was allowed by election tribunal vide judgement dated May 4 on the premise that the secrecy of the votes in the election had not been maintained.

The Bench asserted: “It is also not in dispute that as per the wording of bylaw 36 of 1981 bylaws, in the absence of the president, it is the senior vice-president, who shall perform all duties and exercise the powers of the president.

“It is an admitted case of the parties that respondent BB Singal is the vice-president, who was elected as such along with the petitioner as president in the election held on May 14, involving an identical election process. It is a different matter that the election of the vice-president was not challenged.

“We are unable to fathom as to how the vice-president could be directed to exercise the powers in terms of bylaw 36 of 1981 bylaws, which permits conferring such power only on a senior vice-president…. No doubt is left that the impugned order has been passed by the Financial Commissioner without jurisdiction and by exercise of powers not vested in him. Thus, it can safely be concluded that the order is “Coram non-juidice” and liable to be set aside.”

The Bench added: “It is well settled principle that no person should be condemned unheard and we find that the impugned order dated July 3 is also against the bare principles of natural justice…. The present petition is allowed and the impugned order is set aside.”

Chandigarh, September 25
The Chandigarh Police arrested a Panjab University law student, who allegedly drove away from a petrol station without paying in Sector 43, a few days ago.

The accused was driving the Mitsubishi Lancer car displaying fake registration number when caught, said the police. The police said accused Ajay Singh was living in Sector 46 and was pursuing law from the university. He hailed form Mukatsar district in Punjab.

He drove away from the filling station without paying on September 21 in his car. Petrol station employees gave the registration number to the police, which was found to be the fake number.

The number belonged to a Maruti car. The police was on a lookout of the car and caught the accused on Thursday on suspicion. He was still displaying the same fake registration number on the car.

The police had earlier registered a case of cheating and theft on a complaint lodged by the petrol station staff and later included a Section for using the fake registration number.

Zirakpur, September 25
A mother of five children died while her husband sustained serious injuries in a road accident near Panchkula barrier on Zirakpur-Kalka highway here yesterday. The deceased was identified as Raisan (30), a resident of Baltana, and Kalu (32), a labourer, got injured.

The police stated that the incident took place around 10 am when the couple was on their way to Baltana on a cycle which was hit by a speeding truck coming from behind. As a result the couple fell on the road side and the woman was run over by the truck, killing her died on the spot. The truck driver fled the scene. A case has been registered.

Chandigarh, September 25
An unbeaten 66-run partnership for the third wicket between Talwinderjit Singh (30) and Abilash Sharma (23) helped St Stephen's School to record an eight-wicket victory over Stepping Stone, Sector 37, in the inaugural match of the 6th Molly Carver Memorial Cricket Tournament for High Schools on St Stephen's School ground in Sector 45 here today.

Batting first, Stepping Stone made 129 for 8 in allotted 40 overs. Openers Daksh Aggarwal (11) and Kulbhushan (17) gave them a fine start with a 29-run partnership. Devinder (28), Arohi (26) and Sagar (17) were the other main scorers for Stepping Stone.

Medium-pacer Jagpreet Singh bowled a superb line to take 4 for 31 in eight overs.

In reply, St Stephen's School achieved their target in 29 overs by scoring 130 for 2. Openers Karan Aggarwal (16) and Udit Hari Mehta (36) were associated in a 56-run opening wicket stand. Then the unbroken 66-run partnership between Talwinderjit and Abilash Sharma paved the way for Stephen's easy triumph.

Brief scores:

Stepping Stone-37: 128 for 8 in 40 overs (Kulbhushan 17, Daksh Aggarwal 11, Arohi 26, Devinder 28, Sagar 17, Jagpreet Singh 4 for 31, Talwinderjit Singh 2 for 15 and Abilash 1 for 25).

St Stephen's School-45: 130 for 2 in 29 overs (Karan Aggarwal 16, Udit Hari Mehta 36, Talwinderjit Singh 30 n.o.; Abhilash Sharma 23 n.o.).

Chandigarh, September 25
ONGC players got the better of Namdhari XI by 3-1 in the seventh day of the ongoing 39th SN Vohra’s All-India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament being played at the Hockey Stadium, Sector 42, here.

Niayant of ONGC turned a penalty corner in the favour of his team in the eighth minute of the play. While, the second penalty corner was also turned by Niayant in the 20th minute.

After repeated attempts of Namdhari XI, Gurbez Singh scored the lone goal by turning a penalty corner in their favour in the 65th minute of the match.

For ONGC, Karan hit the ultimate goal of the match as the field goal. Meanwhile, the second match played between IAF and IOC, IOC players won the match by 4-2. The match was delayed for about 45 minute due to power
failure.

Alam of IAF opened the account of his team with a field goal in the 29th minute of the match. While, Didar of IOC hit the board, as a field goal in the 36th minute of the match. Again it was IOC player, Arjun, who turned the penalty corner into a goal during the 41st minute. It was Vikramjit, who hit the ball and turned a penalty corner in the 57th minute.

The penultimate goal of the match was hit by Manpreet of IOC in the 59th minute of the match. However, the ultimate goal of the match was scored by IAF player, Sanjay, in the 67th minute.

Tomorrow’s fixtures:

First semifinal: BPCL V/S IOC at 4.30 pm.
Second semifinal: Army-XI V/S ONGC at 6 pm.

Chandigarh, September 25
Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20 (GMSSS-20), and Moti Ram School, Sector 27, registered comfortable victories in the boys’ under-19 category on the first day of the Chandigarh State Dodgeball Championship for Boys and Girls (U-19 and U-14) being held at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, here today.

In the inaugural match, GMSSS-20 blanked the Friends Club, Sector 18, by 6-5, 3-2. While Moti Ram School edged out KBDAV School, Sector 7, by 8-3 and 6-4.

Results:

Boys’ U-19: Government Model Senior Secondary School-20 beat Friends Club-18 by 6-5, 3-2; Moti Ram School-27 defeated KBDAV School, Sector 7, by 7-2, 3-1; Vidya Niketan Club-39 thrashed Government High School, Sector 7, by 8-3, 6-4; Government Model High School-26 beat DAV Model School-15 by 3-2, 6-2; City Club-7 beat Prince Club-21 by 6-2, 3-1.

Girls’ U-19: Government Model Senior Secondary School-47 thrashed Government Model Senior Secondary School-32 by 3-0 2-1; Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School-20 defeated Government Model High School-26 by 5-4, 4-2; DAV Model School-15 beat Shere Club, Mani Majra, by 3-2, 5-3; Sacred Heart School-26 defeated Vidya Niketan Club-39 by 8-5 and 6-3.

Boys’ U-14: DAV Model School-15 beat Government Senior Secondary School, Behlana, 6-3 and 5-2; Vidya Niketan Club-39 defeated Government Model Senior Secondary School-33 by 6-4, 3-5 and 8-3; Shri Aurobindo School-27 beat CL Aggarwal DAV School-7 by 3-4, 6-3, 4-2; Government High School-7 beat Government Model Senior Secondary School- 20 by 4-2, 3-2; Government Middle School-26 defeated DAV Model School-15 by 4-2, 3-6 and 8-3.

Girls’ U-14: Shri Aurobindo School-27 beat Government High School-7 by 3-1, 2-4, 4-1; Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School-20 beat Government Model Senior Secondary School-19 by 6-7, 5-4, 5-2; Sacred Heart School-26 thrashed CL Aggarwal DAV School-7 by 3-4, 6-3 and 8-6.

Chandigarh, September 25
SGGS College, Sector 26, won the Panjab University Inter-College Swimming Championship for Men with 122 points here today.

While, DAV College, Chandigarh, Government College, Sector 11, and Panjab University campus got second, third and fourth positions, respectively.

SGGS players scored the first position in the 200m individual medley, 200m freestyle and 4X100m freestyle relay and set new records.

Meanwhile, PU campus got the first position in the 50m backstroke championship.

In the Panjab University Inter-College Women Swimming Championship, SGGS Khalsa College for Women secured the top position in 200m individual medley, 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke here today.

SGGS players got 79 points, while PU campus, MCMDAV College for Women, Sector 36, secured second and third positions, respectively.

Panchkula, September 25
Mandeo Singh Pathania, big-hitter from Greater Noida, shot an eagle and eight birdies, as he set the Panchkula Golf Club greens on fire, carding a record nine under-63 to take a three-stroke lead at 11 under-133 in the Rs 30 lakh Haryana Open PGTI event here today.

Ranked 28th on the PGTI Order of Merit, 26-year-old Pathania sent the statisticians scurrying for their record books with his monstrous drives as he rewrote the course record of eight under-65 set by Vijay Kumar six months back.

He overtook overnight leader Harendra P Gupta of Chandigarh, who fired another steady round of three under-69 to be eight under-136. Another city golfer Randhir Singh Ghotra was a stroke behind tied third at 137, along with Amardip Singh Malik. Pathania was in sublime form. The only flaw was a bogey on the third. Birdies on the second, sixth and eighth saw him take the turn at two under-34.

He was flawless in the back nine, starting with a birdie-eagle on the 10th and 11th to be five under after 11 holes. His incredible drive on the 292-yard par four 11th came up just two feet short of the pin to set up an easy eagle.

But there was more to come as he sank four birdies in a row on the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th for a mind-bogging nine under record 63.

An ecstatic Pathania said, “Everything from tee to green just felt perfect today. I drove, chipped and putted really well. In fact, I drove a couple of greens today. It feels so good to break the course record here and also equal my personal best for a single round on the Aircel-PGTI. I have been in contention in recent tournaments and I knew that a very good score was just around the corner for me."

Harendra Gupta (67, 69), who is yet to record a PGTI win this season, is currently in second place, three strokes behind Pathania. He sank his first birdie of the day on the par three 13th and then picked up another on the 15th. He bogeyed the 18th to make the turn at one under.

Gupta sank a birdie on the first and made a bogey-birdie on the fifth and sixth. He signed off with a birdie on the par four ninth, where his eight-iron second shot from 160 yards stopped a few inches short of the pin.

Gupta said: “Even though I shot a lower score in round one, I feel I played better golf in the second round. I say this because I was not driving well today and despite that I produced a three under. The conditions were also tougher today as it was windier.”

Asian Tour star Anirban Lahiri and Manav Jaini are tied fifth at six under 138.

Angad Cheema from Chandigarh was the only amateur, who made the cut to be tied 30th at two over 146. Chandigarh's Ranjit Singh ranked ninth on the PGTI order of merit, failed to make the cut finishing with a nine over 153.

The leading scores after second round: 133 Mandeo Singh Pathania (70-63); 136 Harendra P Gupta (67-69); 137 Randhir Singh Ghotra (71-66) and Amardip Singh Malik (70-67); 138 Manav Jaini (70-68) and Anirban Lahiri (69-69); 139 Sanjay Kumar (70-69), Harmeet Kahlon (70-69) and Ranjit Singh Rathore (69-70); 140 Amit Dube (71-69) and Shankar Das (74-66); 141 Ali Sher (71-70), Mukesh Kumar (70-71) and C Muniyappa (72-69).