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Vidhan Sabha
SGPC covered under RTI, says CIC
Road fatalities on rise
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Virasat Mela begins with fanfare
States are stressed because of pay panels, says Manpreet
Darshan Singh to appear at Takht today
It may not have been battery blast
Dept for NRI affairs likely
MS Gill presses for better facilities at Amritsar airport
De-addiction centre gets fresh lease of life
Government holidays in 2010
No report on NABARD scheme
Octogenarian duped of Rs 1.22 lakh; seeks President’s help
Commissioner for implementation of welfare schemes
MC told to remove encroachments
Amritsar Improvement Trust Case
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Vidhan Sabha
Chandigarh, December 4 Though the strategy of the Congress will be finalised on Monday, it is expected that the Ludhiana incident clubbed with the “poor” law and order situation and the “police-politician” nexus are expected to take centre stage. Even before the House has started Bhattal today condemned the “procedure adopted by the government to summon the eighth session of 13th Punjab Vidhan Sabha”. Criticising the short session she has said the government is trying to shy away from its responsibility and evading answering questions that would be embarrassing. “When it is obligatory for the government to call the session up to January 10, what is the exigency to go in haste to call the session on December 7?” By taking the approval of the Governor prior to the nod of the Cabinet, the ruling alliance has made a mockery of past practices. She has said that the SAD-BJP government was in undue haste to complete its constitutional obligation, but it was least concerned about discussing, deliberating on and tackling the issues confronting the public in the House. Bhattal has further said that the notice for the session had been issued only two working days prior to the start of the session whereas even a calling attention notice needed two clear days for its admission and questions needed 15 clear days for enlistment in the business. The tone and tenor of the events to come in the House is clear from the mood of the Opposition. Though former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is not a part of the House, he ,too, has lashed out at the state government for its failure to maintain law and order in the state. Referring to the violence in Ludhiana, the former Chief Minister observed that the way the situation had taken an ugly turn there reflected poorly on the state government. Capt Amarinder Singh maintained that the situation had deteriorated only because of the failure of the police to act on time. He said people were not feeling safe as the government had abdicated its duty to perform.
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SGPC covered under RTI, says CIC
Chandigarh, December 4 Taking up three cases pertaining to the denial of information to applicants by the SGPC, the Chief Information Commissioner, Punjab, Ramesh Inder Singh, today stated that the SGPC was a creation of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, marking the culmination of the struggle of the Sikh people to wrest control of their places of worship from mahants or priests. “The objective of the legislation was to provide for better administration of certain Sikh gurdwaras. The Act provides for an elected democratic regime to manage the affairs of gurdwaras. Transparency and openness are, therefore, in consonance with the democratic character of the SGPC,” he wrote in his orders. The CIC also noted that the SGPC had been giving information under the RTI Act in some cases while refusing information in others on the grounds that it was not covered under the RTI Act as it was not owned, controlled or financed by the government. It was argued by the SGPC that no other religious institution or a place of worship of any other religion was subject to the RTI Act and, therefore, there was no reason why the SGPC should be subjected to the provisions of the RTI Act. It was also pleaded that allowing information may lead to a situation where non-believers may seek information which would interfere with the religious rights of the minority to manage and administer its own religious and educational affairs. Lastly, it was argued that the SGPC was not one body but there were many branches and organisations of the SGPC. The information seekers had, however, said that the SGPC was a body established by an Act of the legislature and, therefore, it was a public authority. It was further argued that unless the disclosure of information was exempted under Section 8 or 9 of the Act, the respondent had no option but to supply the information. The identity of the organisations exempted from the provisions of the RTI Act has been mentioned in the Second Schedule to the Act, in conformity with Section 24 of the RTI Act. The SGPC is not mentioned in the Second Schedule. Lastly, it was argued that even private organisations under certain circumstances were subject to the operation of the RTI Act and the SGPC could not seek exemption on the grounds that it does not receive substantial financial assistance from the state. Disagreeing with the arguments put forth by the SGPC and ordering it to provide information to the applicants within 15 days, Ramesh Inder Singh said: “The fact that it is not funded by the state or the fact that some of its educational institutions do not get any financial aid from the government is not material; it is a public authority because it is the creation of law.”
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Road fatalities on rise
Chandigarh, December 4 Punjab Director General of Police Paramdeep Singh Gill holds speed, drunken driving, fatigue, overloading, use of commercial vehicles for ferrying passengers, poor driving skills, poor road engineering and growing commercial activity along important roads as main causes for the rising road fatalities in the state. “It is not the police alone that can reduce road fatalities,” he said while expressing the need for cooperation among various departments, including Public Works and Transport, to make the roads of the state safer. The Punjab police is unable to do much as powers to regulate speed or control issuance of driving licences and registration-cum-fitness certificates lie with the Transport Department. And any snags or flaws in road design and structure are handled either by the Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads) or by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board. Local bodies, including municipal corporations, have the power to fix speed limits as well as declare one-way traffic zones for better management of vehicular traffic in their respective areas. Police officials maintain that they are only an enforcement agency and can challan people for 101 types of violations that include driving without helmets, registration number plates and driving licences or over-speeding and drunken driving. The police says it has an an excellent record in challaning road users as 2.98 lakh persons were challaned in the first 10 months and Rs 9.12 crore was realised from them. These figure apart, roads in Punjab are becoming more and more accident-prone. From 1,700 fatalities a year about a decade ago, the number has almost doubled now. With a month to go for the year to end, total deaths in road accidents in Punjab in 2009 have already crossed 3,100. Punjab has a defunct Traffic Advisory Panel. There is a lack of coordination between various departments dealing with road engineering, road safety, road design, traffic management and traffic regulation. The police does not have much infrastructure or equipment to check drunken driving, one of the major causes of road accidents in the state.
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Virasat Mela begins with fanfare
Bathinda, December 4 Creatively decked-up elephants, horses, camels, jeeps and tractor-trailers added colour to the procession. Dance of mares, adventurous activities like ‘gatka’, a religious sport played by Sikh youths, and some choreographies targeting social evils remained the main attractions at the fest. Besides, a number of physically challenged volunteers of the United Welfare Society participated in the procession, motivating all to donate blood. Schoolchildren holding billboards delivered messages on female foeticide, Aids and protection of environment. In Jaipalgarh village, people had brought their traditional household goods, including spinning wheels, utensils, garments, coins, etc, to make people have a feel of the rich past of the region. An exhibition of paintings, photographs was also arranged to attract art lovers. Among others, LR Nayyar, Commissioner of Income Tax, and KPS Mahi, SDM, Bathinda, attended the mela.
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States are stressed because of pay panels, says Manpreet
Chandigarh, December 4 “To be honest, I have not seen the report and cannot comment on their recommendations,” he said in a chat with The Tribune here today, holding that the “fiscal health of most of the states is the same. “States are stressed because of Pay Commission recommendations they have to implement. The Centre won’t bail us out as we an additional liability of Rs 3,000 crore. The Finance Ministers of all states wanted the Centre to share a part of the additional wages we are to pay to our respective employees. “Further, because of the economic turndown or recession, revenue collections, too, have come down. As such the devolution of funds to the states will also be lower this time,” said Refusing to be drawn into a controversy over the Council of Ministers’ decision yesterday to revise the wages of Ministers and legislators, he says that since a “majority felt that way, my lone dissent will have been of no consequence.” The report of the Sukhbir Badal-Manoranjan Kalia Committee did not come up for discussion at yesterday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers. He was hopeful that the recommendations of the committee would be implemented in full. The Finance Minister, known for his opposition to subsidies, said that since the fiscal health of a state was a multi-dimensional issue, it could not be expected of him to deliver a capsule or a bite to sum up the fiscal health of the state at any moment of time. He said he had been saying from day one that the issue of subsidies needed serious re-thinking. “Good they have done it at this stage but now it is a little too late,” he said on the sidelines of a book release function here this afternoon. While releasing “Ik Baat Main Pavaan” by Babbu Tir, a columnist, he said it was the duty of everyone to work for the propagation of Punjabi, Punjabiat and the Punjabi culture. Babbu Tir is the daughter of the late Gurnam Singh Tir, famous Punjabi satirist. This book is a collection of her stories, essays and satires on contemporary Punjab. Manish Tewari, MP from Ludhiana, while recalling the friendly ties his father, the late Dr Vishwa Nath Tewari, had with Gurnam Singh Tir, complimented Babbu Tir on her venture.
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Darshan Singh to appear at Takht today
Amritsar, December 4 Downplaying the possibility of any clash between his supporters and opponents, Professor Singh said he would not be appearing at Akal Takht with a large number of followers. “I will be appearing at Akal Takht at around 10.30 am on Saturday in the company of a few religious persons,” said Professor Singh while talking to The Tribune over the phone. The Sikh clergy has already censured Professor Singh, in a way, by directing him not to give any discourse till he appeared at Akal Takht on December 5.
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It may not have been battery blast
Jalandhar, December 4 Defence spokesman Naresh Vig admitted that the bodies of the four jawans were mutilated and that the explosion blew them to the 10-foot high ceiling. Pellets and splinters found in the bodies also indicate the presence of an explosive device. Although Army authorities continue to be tight-lipped, the initial explanation that the jawans died due to a battery blast has virtually been discarded. The jawans were preparing for the annual technical inspection scheduled this week. And had the explosion taken place during the inspection, the casualty figure would have been higher. It could also have taken the lives of senior Army officers since the inspection is conducted by an official of the rank of Chief of Staff. The Army PRO today assured the media that all possibilities were being looked into and nothing was being ruled out. Was Tuesday’s explosion a diversionary tactic to commit more serious mischief elsewhere in the cantonment? Was stealing important documents the motive by diverting the attention of the senior officers? Or was something big was being planned for the day of the inspection? The inquiry, he assured, would cover all these questions and people found guilty would be punished under the Army Act. The explosion has put a question mark on the security system of the armed forces. How could explosives find their way inside the workshop? And, more importantly, who could or would have done it and why are questions, which continue to worry investigators. It is also not clear how the explosion was triggered. Was it kept there surreptiously for use on the day of the inspection but went off accidentally on Tuesday evening? As of now, there are no answers. The deceased jawans had been together in the same regiment for the past few years. While one of them was from Haryana, the other three were from Assam, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh respectively. Jalandhar SSP RK Jaiswal, who visited the blast site, maintained that he had gone there to enquire about any assistance from the district police in this case. “As the matter was being probed jointly by the Army authorities and forensic experts, no outside help was required,” he added.
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Dept for NRI affairs likely
Bathinda, December 4 This was stated here today by Sewa Singh Sekhon, Minister for NRI Affairs. He said he had asked the Secretary concerned to prepare a blueprint for setting up the department at the district level to facilitate the NRIs and solve their problems speedily when they visit their native places in Punjab. Sekhon said the NRI department that was functioning on a skeleton basis would be streamlined to meet the expectations of the NRIs. He said the Punjab and Haryana High Court would be approached for the creation of fast-track courts to deal with the litigation pertaining to the NRIs. Such cases were piling up in other courts. The minister said special police stations for the NRIs had been opened in some districts. He lamented that investments from the NRIs were not flowing into Punjab mainly due to red tape among the officialdom. A single-window system was proposed to be introduced to handle applications of the NRIs for setting up projects in Punjab. He said legal safeguards had already been provided to safeguard the properties of the NRIs.
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MS Gill presses for better facilities at Amritsar airport
Jalandhar, December 4 Asked about what steps were required to be taken to further enhance the connectivity of Amritsar with international destinations, Gill said there should be direct flights from Amritsar to various cities in Canada such as Vancouver, Toronto and also to the main cities in the US and the UK. He said a ministerial colleague had told him the other day that the flight from the Bejing was full of Punjabis. He said these Punjabis had come from Canada via Bejing in absence of a direct flight from Vancouver to Amritsar. He said for the benefit of Punjab's trading and business community there was need to enhance rail connectivity to Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore via Delhi. He stressed on the need to enhance the frequency of trains from Amritsar and other important cities of Punjab to other big cities such as Kolkata and Mumbai.
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De-addiction centre gets fresh lease of life
Bathinda, December 4 The de-addiction centre in this area was facing closure because of being fund starved. Rajiv Jain, general manager of the local unit of Ambuja Cements, has announced a grant of Rs 51,000 for the centre in the shape of medicines, rations, bedsheets, blankets and an inverter. Jain gave an assurance of additional grants by end of the current financial year. Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari, who is the chairman of the Red Cross, has been making efforts to streamline the functioning of the centre. The centre had been starved of funds for the past few years as the Ministry of Social Justice suspended its financial aid. Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal had taken up the matter with the Central Government and sought the release of grants.
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Government holidays in 2010
Chandigarh, December 4 The public offices will remain closed for Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday (January 5); Basant Panchmi and Satguru Ram Singh’s birthday (January 20); Republic Day (January 26); Sri Guru Ravidas’s birthday (January 30); Maha Shivaratri (February 12); Holi (February 28); Shahidi Divas of Bhagat Singh (March 23); Ram Navami (March 24); Mahavir Jayanti (March 28); Good Friday (April 02); Baisakhi and Dr BR Ambedkar’s Birthday (April 14); May Day (May 1) and Parshuram Jayanti (May 16). Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day (June 16); Kabir Jayanti (June 26); Shahid Udham Singh’s martyrdom day (July 31); Independence Day (August 15); Janamashtami (Sptember 2); Id-ul-Fitr (September 11); Baba Sri Chand’s birthday (September 16); Birthday of S. Bhagat Singh (September 28); Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday (October 2); Agarsain Jayanti ( October 8); birthday of Sri Guru Ram Dass (October 9); Dasehra (October 17) and Mahrshi Valmiki’s birthday (October 22). Diwali (November 5); Vishwakarma Day (November 6); Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) (November 17); Guru Nanak Dev’s birthday (November 21); Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom day (November 24); and Christmas (December 25). New Year Day (January 1); Lohri (January 13); Nirwan Diwas of Bhagwan Adinath Ji (January 14); Id-e-Milad (February 27); Hola Mohalla (March 1); International Women’s Day (March 8); Buddh Purnima (May 27); Nirjala Ekadashi (June 22); death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji (June 29); birthday of Baba Jiwan Singh Ji (September 5); Anant Chaturdashi (September 22); Birthday of Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur (October 16); Karva Chauth (October 26); Birthday of Sant Nam Dev Ji (October 26); New Punjab Day (November 1); Goverdhan Pooja (November 6); Muharram (December 17) and Jor Mela Fatehgarh Sahib (December 24, 25 and 26) are restricted holidays in the Calendar, 2010. The public holidays in Punjab during the calendar year 2010 within the meaning of Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, are birthday of Sri Guru Gobind Singh (January 5); Republic Day (January 26); Birthday of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji (January 30); Holi (February 28); Ram Naumi (March 24); bank holiday (April 1); martyrdom day of Sri Guru Arjan Dev (June 16); Independence Day (August 15); Janmashtami
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No report on NABARD scheme
Chandigarh, December 4 However, even after three months, not a single progress report has been received. The department on November 30, again wrote to the DCs to ensure that these reports are sent. As many as 351 schools are being built in the state under a NABARD scheme at a cost of Rs 141 crore. Three schools are to be built in 117 constituencies.
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Octogenarian duped of Rs 1.22 lakh; seeks President’s help
Patiala, December 4 Fed up with the inordinate delay in the refund despite having got a decree in favour from the district consumer court, he has requested President Pratibha Patil and US President Barack Obama, too, to influence the Indian government to refund his money. Since five years, he has been pleading officials to help him recover Rs 1.22 lakh, with interest at the rate of 12 per cent, made in his favour by a consumer court. He has also sent a petition to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, saying that he and his wife Darshan Kaur had filed a consumer complaint against VSB Leasing and Finance Limited and two others in 2000. On June 25, 2000, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum awarded Rs 1.22 lakh with interest at the rate of 12 per cent to complainants. But, the debtors failed to comply. Rajinder Singh and Darshan Kaur filed the application under Section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act. The forum issued a recovery certificate to the collector for recovering the money from debtors, but authorities, including collector, and tehsildar connived with the debtors and had been harassing him, rued Rajinder. The accused neither responded to the summons served on them nor appeared before court during proceedings, he said. Rajinder, who does not have the means to earn his livelihood, said suicide seems to be the only way out now.
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Commissioner for implementation of welfare schemes Patiala, December 4 While stating that a strict action would be initiated against erring officials, Bir said he would monitor the progress of the schemes. He announced this while presiding over a meeting of the Deputy Commissioners of Patiala, Ferozepur and Faridkot division. He said: “At present, nearly 16 government schemes, including NREGA, Midday Meal, National Rural Health Mission, Indira Awas Yojna, are in Punjab. Bathinda is on the top while SAS Nagar is at the bottom in implementing the NREGA.” Deputy Commissioners have been directed to ensure that funds for all schemes are utilised.” They have also been asked to review the progress of the schemes at regular intervals and should report names of the erring officials to Bir. “The annual performance appraisal report of the erring officials will be provided. Bir also asked them to prepare the district disaster management plans,” he added. “Emergency response system to deal with exigencies could be prepared only if there is a specific plan for the disaster management,” Bir said. Deputy Commissioners of Fatehgarh Sahib, Barnala, SAS Nagar, Ropar, Faridkot, Mansa, Ferozepur, Moga and Muktsar also attended the meeting.
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MC told to remove encroachments
Patiala, December 4 While addressing a meeting of deputy commissioners of 13 districts that was also attended by civic functionaries of Municipal Corporations of Ludhiana and Patiala, Bir said: “The top brass of Patiala and Ludhiana corporations should take a round of their districts and initiate an action for removing these encroachments.” Bir further said the corporation head should visit the areas in order to assess the magnitude of the problem. Meanwhile, Bir also asked the Deputy Commissioners of Faridkot, Patiala and Ferozepur division to comply with the directions regarding the religious encroachments issued to all states by the apex court. “Besides ensuring that no religious institution will encroach a government land, district administrations and civic functionaries should find an amicable way to deal with the existing encroachments”, he asserted, adding that the authorities must devise a strategy to resolve the issue.
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Amritsar Improvement Trust Case
Chandigarh, December 4 As the case came up for hearing this morning, Justice HS Bhalla issued notice regarding stay, and notice of motion on the petition, which was accepted by a deputy advocate-general. Fixing January 14, 2010, as the next date of hearing, he asserted: “Lower court record be requisitioned and put along with this petition”. Seeking the quashing of the FIR dated September 11, 2008, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC, and the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Captain claimed there was not even a single word in the challan sheet against him with regard to pecuniary benefits. He added that the controversy was under the Supreme Court scanner. But, the vigilance department, without seeking the Supreme Court permission, submitted the challan sheet. The challan was against those indicted by the special committee, the constitution of which was under challenge before the highest court. In the petition filed through lawyers, including senior advocate RS Cheema, Amarpreet Deol and others, Captain asserted the government, during his tenure as chief minister, unearthed scam relating to the sale of government jobs through the Punjab Public Service Commission. Similarly, many public offices were made accountable, which were misused during the earlier government headed then by Parkash Singh Badal; and an FIR was also registered against the Badal family. On assuming power, the present government, out to settle score with the petitioner due to political animosity, registered cases. Captain said the case was one of the few cases registered due to political vendetta by resorting to a unique mode for registering the FIR by appointing a special committee, constituting Punjab Vidhan Sabha members.
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Malwa, the sixth Virasat
Mela, which will continue for three days, today began with solemnising the wedding of a poor couple from the region. The fair is being organised by the Malwa Heritage Foundation.Sewa Singh
Sekhwan, Minister for NRI affairs and Information and Public Relations, flagged off the heritage procession, which commenced from Gurdwara Haji Rattan and passed through the main markets of the city before concluding at Jaipalgarh village.
