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Oppn councillors suspended
Chandigarh, December 24 There was high drama in the house when the agenda of confirmation of minutes of the 147th meeting was tabled and the opposition asked why this item was being put up since the minutes were not attached with the agenda of the 148th meeting held today. When the agenda of confirmation of minutes was tabled, all opposition councillors objected to it and said they would not allow the house to proceed till the mayor informed them about the confirmation of minutes of the last meeting. “Why have they not be tabled when listed in the agenda?” they asked. On this Kamlesh adjourned the house for ten minutes. When it resumed all opposition councillors assembled in the well of the house and asked the mayor to clarify their query. Kamlesh then asked MC acting commissioner PK Sharma to inform the councillors why the minutes had not been put up today. The latter said he had received the minutes yesterday after office hours but had no staff to compile and get them published for the house. To which Kamlesh said she had sent the minutes thrice to the authorities but they had not affixed their signatures on them. The mayor stated there were a number of
instances when the proceedings of the house continued without confirmation of the previous meeting so the house could discuss other development related agendas with confirmation of minutes being approved later on. However, the opposition demanded before discussing other agendas the mayor should withdraw the confirmation of the minutes item or table it before the house if she wanted to defer the item. Kamlesh warned the opposition councillors to “behave” in the house but none bothered to pay heed. She then announced all of them were suspended from the house for 15 days under section 62 (3). Legal experts said according to the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act the mayor had powers to suspend any councillor. However, they added section 62 (2) stated a councillor who indulged in a “grossly disorderly manner” would be suspended for one meeting and if the councillor repeated the act within 15 days then he or she could again be suspended for 15 days. The legal experts further stated that as the exemption given to Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla from attending the house till December 2009 was listed on the agenda, the house could not confirm the minutes of the last meeting, as Babla’s councillorship could be cancelled, today being the fifth meeting from which he remained absent. After the house adjourned, all the opposition councillors along with three who were nominated met UT local government secretary Ram Niwas to complain against the mayor’s “attitude”. Niwas immediately asked Sharma to submit a detailed report on why the minutes were not circulated as well as on the councillors’ suspension. “After receiving the report appropriate action would be taken by the Chandigarh administration as per the law”, he stated.
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Babla’s membership still at stake
Chandigarh, December 24 All its efforts to save councillor Devinder Singh Babla were dashed as it could not get confirmation of the minutes of the previous house meeting. This could lead to the suspension of his membership as he had been absent from five consecutive house meetings, which was in violation of the municipal Act. At the previous meeting, exemption for Babla till December was tabled and approved. After the confirmation of its minutes today, it was to be sent to the administration for clearance, but confirmation of the minutes could not be tabled. After the house was adjourned by the Mayor, former councillor Pardeep Chhabra announced outside the house as a party representative that Kamlesh would withdraw the suspension of all councillors with immediate effect. Even Congress councillor Anu Chatrath, to cover up for the Mayor, said she announced in the house that the councillors were suspended for 15 minutes and not for a day. Before this meeting, the Congress was confident about the support of nominated councillors to win the mayoral election, scheduled for January 1. As the Mayor announced the suspension of Opposition councillors in the house today, nominated councillors openly came out in support of the Opposition, claming that they would not tolerate the dictatorship of the Congress. Meanwhile, during the Question Hour, BSP councillor Jatinder Bhatia objected to the department not mentioning the resolution passed by the house in 2007 regarding stray cattle and dog ponds. Bhatia said the problem of stray cattle had been increasing in southern sectors, due to which a number of accidents had occurred, of which many might not have been reported. In response to this, Medical Health Officer GS Diwan said steps were being taken to check the menace and they had asked for land from the administration for the burial of carcasses of stray cattle and other animals. Interestingly, Mayor Kamlesh and secretary Kamlesh approved five agenda items in the house between themselves without discussion. All councillors were asking how the Mayor could table agenda items like this, but finally, the Mayor accepted that nothing had been approved. Meanwhile, a two-minute silence was observed in the memory of those who were buried alive under debris in Sector 31 on December 6. The house decided that from now on, in case of if any mishap in the city, the corporation would gave a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of victims who lost their lives and Rs 20,000 to those injured.
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Ruchika Case
Chandigarh, December 24 Like the Jessica Lal case earlier, this time also several prominent networking sites have registered a splurge in communities where the youth have launched an online campaign against former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore being let off with such a small punishment. Terming the verdict to be yet another instance of mockery of our judicial system, a member of a community called Feminism writes: “What does the judgment imply? Does it mean hereafter anyone willing to serve a term of six months in jail is in fact entitled to molest any woman? What kind of idiots do they take the public to be?” “Nineteen years of trauma for the girl’s (Ruchika’s) family and all that it cost the accused was just 6 months behind bar and a peanut fine of Rs 1,000. It’s high time we as a nation look to the fact that such criminals are not able to use luxury of power and loopholes in the criminal justice system to commit such crimes and walk free,” writes another member of a similar community. It may be noted over hundreds of such members have strongly condemned Rathore not being tried for abetment of suicide and have demanded severe punishment for the same. “Given the fact he was himself a top police officer responsible for upholding the law he should be punished more severely. Also the politicians who today are condemning all this are hypocrites as it is they only who patronise such criminals. In addition to Rathore all those who supported him should also be punished,” says a member of a community called India post Gandhi. Meanwhile, according to sociologists this trend - net crusading in common parlance -is a positive sign of the much-required awareness among youth. “It began after the Jessica Lal case and zis probably one of the most positive development in youth activism. The social networking sites provide a platform to youth to express their views but - most importantly - they ensure there is a nationwide involvement on any issue. Let’s hope like in the Jessica Lal case earlier this time too this kind of activism is able to accomplish what the last 19 years of the (Ruchika case) trial wasn’t able to”, said a sociology professor.
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Candlelit march by P’kula residents
Panchkula, December 24 “People are with both the families who stood before the tyranny of a senior IPS officer. The march was held to give a jolt to the agencies involved in delaying justice,” one of the participants stated. People were holding placards, condemning Rathore and the CBI for allegedly dropping charges of abetment to suicide against Rathore. The police had made security arrangements along the route and also at the house of Rathore to prevent any untoward incident. The police has also provided security to Ruchika’s family at their house.
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Counsel: Rathore can be retried for abetting suicide
Smriti Sharma Vasudeva Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 24 “If the Supreme Court takes it up as it is an exceptional case and wants that an ordinary person should repose its trust in the judicial system, the case can be retried and taken to its logical end. A similar view was taken by the Supreme Court in the Best Bakery case in 2003-04,” said Pankaj Bharadwaj, Anand Parkash’s counsel. Had it not been for the application moved by Rathore against the inclusion of the Section 306, which was accepted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 12, 2002, the case would have reached its logical conclusion much earlier. Bharadwaj had moved the application for the addition of Section 306 of the IPC in the court of special judicial magistrate, first class, Ambala, which was allowed on October 23, 2001. In its 21-page order on the application, the judge had observed that he failed to understand why the CBI turned a deaf ear to the statement of prosecution witnesses regarding Ruchika’s death. When Rathore had moved an application against the inclusion of Section 306, defence arguments continued for four days at the Punjab and Haryana High Court before Justice RC Kathuria. It had been stated that at no stage did Ruchika give a statement during investigations. An FIR was registered nearly 10 years after the incident and by that time, Ruchika was dead.
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Sampat unfazed
Panchkula, December 24 Prof Sampat Singh, the then Home Minister, who referred the report indicting Rathore for second opinion to new DGP RK Hooda, said his action was right. Following DGP RR Singh’s report indicting Rathore, the file containing the report kept moving before it was buried, till it was procured after efforts of four years by complainant Anand Prakash in 1998. Sampat, however, denied any lapse on his part. He had no answer to the query that what compelled him to send the file for second opinion. “The case is so old that I cannot comment on it,” he said.
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Woman dies of swine flu at PGI
Chandigarh, December 24 “A middle-aged woman, Aasha Devi, had been admitted to the PGI for some time and died this morning,” HC Gera, nodal officer for swine flu. Those who tested positive include a 24-year-old doctor from the internal medicine department at the PGI. So far, 42 persons have died of swine flu in city hospitals, including six from Chandigarh, 17 from Punjab and 13 from Haryana while over 299 persons have tested
positive.
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Aashreya guard admits raping inmate
Chandigarh, December 24 Sources said during his interrogation Chhotu Ram alias Madho Ram, who was posted as the security guard at Aashreya, admitted to have raped the victim on March 15, just two days after she arrived there on March 13. He, however, told the investigators he had raped her only once. “He is concealing facts and was not revealing the entire sequence of the events leading to the sexual exploitation of the victim. In the light of the DNA report he could not refute the fact he had raped the victim. He will be thoroughly interrogated and the statements of the other suspects and employees of Aashreya will be corroborated to find out his timings and movements at the institution”, said a police officer. The police believed the role of other employees as abettors to the crime would also surface during the course of the investigation, as it was not possible for Chhotu to single-handedly commit the crime without ever been noticed by anyone. The families of the five suspects employed at Nari Niketan, including Bhupinder Singh, Jamna Das, Vijender, Kamla and Maya, heaved a “sigh of relief’’ following revelations of the DNA report. They had been claiming the police had implicated their members without going deep into the facts. Though they had refused to say anything on the issue at this stage they are reportedly discussing the issue with their lawyers. They added they are closely monitoring the police investigation to see which way it would go now. Sources close to the families of the suspects languishing in jail said the DNA report had given a twist to the case and had changed its direction. They said the police had not arrested any suspect from Aashreya during its seven-month long probe and had filed its charge sheet on the role of the five suspects already arrested in the case. The cops had failed to dig out the facts and evidence against the role of the other suspects, the sources
added.
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13 Coop Societies
Mohali, December 24 Following litigation over a pocket of the land to be allotted to the societies, the case had been sent to the office of the Chief Minister for certain clarification. The authorities were now contemplating alloting joint land to two of the societies. The process is expected to be completed in the next few months. The societies are being allotted land in Sectors 76, 79 and 80. On the other hand, members of the cooperative house building societies have criticised GMADA for ignoring the basic principle of the cooperative movement while deciding the land rates. The allotment rate is over five times the rate of Rs 2,000 per sq yd it had offered at the time of inviting applications. Last year, GMADA had proposed a rate of Rs 10,000 per sq yd. But after an increase in the reserve price of residential plots in August, the allotment price of the land to the cooperative societies was increased to Rs 12,000 per sq yd. In 2006, the finance and accounts of Punjab Urban Development Authority had decided to refund the earnest money to the societies. However, since the societies had applied for allotment of sites in 2003 and the decision to go for auction was taken in 2006, the case was reconsidered by the authority in February, 2008. But on the intervention by the Chief Minister, who is also chairman of GMADA, 13 societies were being allotted land by way of the allotment instead of the current policy of the allotment of land by way of auction.
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National Youth Festival
Chandigarh, December 24 On December 17, deputy secretary DP Bhardwaj had written to the director (passenger marketing), ministry of railways, Dr Monika Agnihotri that it was impossible for the secretary, ministry of youth affairs and sports, to issue certificates to around 3,000 participants from all over the country. He urged her to issue necessary instructions to the field authorities concerned to accept the authentication by the secretary-in-charge of the youth affairs in the state/UT government. However, the department was yet to receive any response from her, causing anxiety among the participants. Sources in the sports department said the delay on part of the railways was causing anxiety among participants, as it would not be possible for the department to get reservation for all participants and only 40 to 45 participants would be sent for the festival. The sources said the same was the case of participants from Punjab as they had received no communiqué from the railways making amendments to the rules so that artistes, who had been preparing for the past one month to participate in the festival, could avail of the concession. Punjab sports director Pargat Singh could not be contacted on his mobile for his comments. The directorate of sports and youth services, Orissa, had directed all youth affairs and sports department of different states and Union Territories in the country to avail of the 50 per cent concession in rail fares announced by the railway board while sending their teams for the youth festival. However, the ministry of railways directed its officials posted in 16 railway zones to pass on the concession only if the departments concerned produced the requisite certificate from the secretary, ministry of youth
affairs and sports. However, Sidhu said they had decided to send the teams to Bhubaneswar without availing of the concessions. He said it would become impossible for the department to get the seats reserved for participants as only a few days were left for the festival. He said it was for the first time that the ministry of railways had put such a clause, as earlier they used to certify the antecedents of the participants themselves.
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Ambitious schemes in the offing
Scripted under the National e-Governance Plan of the Government of India, the vision, according to department officials, will not only give better classrooms, libraries and laboratories to kids, but ensure all that has been promised materialises. The vision, in addition to benefitting students, is also aimed at wiping the blot of the infamous cash-for-job scam, the most-talked event of the department in 2009. The department was in the news for the wrong reasons with the unearthing of the recruitment scam, wherein Hardev and Jolly were arrested for selling job of teacher. What made things worse was the name of the then DPI(S) Samwartak Singh coming under the scanner and an entire phase of ‘did he or did he not’ bringing the department to a standstill. “It was not that we did not do anything major in 2009. The unified counselling for class XI was taken up for the first time. Similarly, the long-awaited DPC was done, in addition to the launch of the ambitious Partner Initiative Programme. Also, long -pending recruitment was started,” said an official. Other than this, 2009 was also important in terms of the UT administration’s relationship with private schools. Be it school bus fare, corporal punishment or registration fee, both locked horns over almost
everything. While the former termed it exercising better control, the latter called it unwanted interference for publicity. “Yes, things have not been great, but now, school infrastructure will go in for a major makeover,” says DPI(S) Sunil Bhatia. According to him, from next year, schools in Chandigarh would be totally automated. As per new plans, students would not only have computers on their study tables, but would be able to access the Internet in their classrooms. All educational institutions would be inter-connected through a UT network. “In addition to this, other major things will be building repairs and well-stocked libraries and laboratories. We have shortlisted the schools as per their requirements and the needful will be done,” added Bhatia. The administration had decided to construct 29 new schools at Sectors 48, 49, 51 and 55 and Hallo Majra, new high schools at Sectors 29, 51 and 52 and government senior secondary schools at Mauli Colony, Indira Colony and Palsora. The plans, in a way, resemble those launched by the then DPI(S) SK Setia, but let us welcome the New Year with our fingers crossed that the new plans do not share the fate of the earlier ones.
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Plight of labourers discussed
Chandigarh, December 24 The team said it visited Dhandari Kalan and Sherpur and spoke to a large number of migrant labourers and visited their homes. They found that despite a large number
of migrant workforce (around 12 lakh) living in Ludhiana for over 15 years, a majority of them never got their voter cards or even the ration card. The team found that the migrant labourers were living under the threat of attacks of “biker gangs” in which several labourers were injured. Besides, the police refused to file the complaints of labourers. They quoted an incident of Dhandhari police station and said: “Instead of helping the migrant labourers, the police turned the issue into a
migrant labour versus the local people.” A similar incident took place on December 4, when there was a tussle between the workers on one side of the level crossing at Dhandari Kalan and the police on the other end. The team also found that due to the apathy of the administration and the police, the number of workers living in Ishwar Colony was reduced to only 20 per cent of the original
population. It was also found that the police claimed that workers had set their houses on fire. The members of the teachers’ association brought out the demands of the people and asked for compensation and stationing of a CRPF camp in the neighbourhood. There was also a demand for releasing 42 migrant labourers.
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Santa Claus all the way
Chandigarh, December 24 Blanketed white, the school organised various events spreading the message of peace and harmony. Chief guest Justice Mongia, chairperson of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission elaborated upon the importance of restoration of human rights in today’s world. St Kabir School
St Kabir School, Sector 26, celebrated Christmas by awarding five scholarships and gifting cardigans to students of Government High School, Mauli Jagran, under the Partnership Initiative Programme today. The school band presented carols and Santa in green encourage kids to adopt eco-friendly habits. AKSIPS-41
The pre-primary wing of AKSIPS-41 held a week-long Christmas celebration. Children decorated X-mas tree with balls, stars, snowman, cap and they hung stockings in their classrooms. Carmel School
Carols, feast and gifts along with prayers and wishes marked the beginning of the festive week for 125 students of a special project of Carmel School. The students participated in activities, including camel rides, Mickey Mouse bouncy, tattoo art and magic show. British School
The British School, Sector 44, celebrated Christmas with enthusiasm today. Principal Mona Shri Sethi apprised students of importance of celebrating the festival. A play on Jesus Christ was also enacted. Saupin’s School
The Chandigarh and Mohali divisions of Saupin’s reached out to make Christmas merrier for the residents of the Leprosy Home in Sector 47 and missionaries of charity in Sector 23. The volunteers of Saupin’s Community Service Organisation (SCSO), donated items like wheat flour, rice, oil, pulses etc worth Rs 15,000 to the leprosy home while the missionaries of charity were handed over a cheque of Rs 21,000. KV- 31
Christmas was celebrated with pomp and show at Kendriya Vidayalaya, Sector 31. The occasion was marked by the arrival of tiny tots dressed as Santa Claus, who brought gifts and sweets for them. Students sang carols and danced around Santa. Principal SK Bhatia urged the students to spread the message of love, peace and brotherhood in the society. KBDAV-7
Christmas eve celebrations at KBDAV-7 were focused on ushering the New Year with a resolution to “go green”. Going hand-in-hand with the worldwide consciousness to combat global warming, nearly 1,100 students from classes pre-nursery to KG, Saral Ahsaas and the middle wing students showed their versatility through a spectrum of novel activities. A cultural performance by tiny tots was the highlight of the day. Delhi Public School
Delhi Public School, Chandigarh, celebrated Christmas with fervour today. Christmas carols echoed all around. The entire campus was decorated with bells, streamers and Christmas trees. Christmas Eve was celebrated with enthusiasm in the junior wing of GNPS, Sector 37. Christmas tree was decorated and every one enjoyed the cake. The children dressed up as Santa Claus gave gifts to the students. Awareness rally
NSS volunteers of Government Senior Secondary School, sector 21, organized an awareness rally on drug abuse and HIV AIDS in their adopted village Behlena. The rally was flagged of by Bikram Rana, State Liaison Officer, NSS, UT administration. The volunteers were asked to ensure that any HIV positive person should not be denied treatment, rehabilitation financial support from family and society. KV- 47
Dr Pawan Kapur, director, CSIO, inaugurated the 2nd spell of in-service training course for PGTs of physics at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 47, today. The course aimed at equipping the teachers with the latest in content and pedagogy from December 23 to January 1. Dr Pawan Kapur highlighted the need of science among citizens. He also apprised the teachers of opportunities in physics. Heritage Public School
Mohali: Heritage Public School, Jagatpura, celebrated Christmas here today with fervour. Students dressed as Santa Claus were taken to a nearby church. The highlights of the religious festivity were of teachings of Jesus Christ. The school director, Preeti Sandhu and members of the staff exchanged Christmas greetings with students and wished them happy returns of the day. Small Wonders School
Christmas celebrations were in the air at Small Wonders School. Students enacted the scenes of birth of Jesus Christ. Dressed as little shepherds, they celebrated the birth of Jesus. AKSIPS-65
AKSIPS-65 celebrated Christmas with fervour. The entire campus was decked with Santa, Christmas trees and wreaths. A special assembly was also organised by Einstein house. A nativity scene by the students enticed the audience. It was followed by a talk show, highlighting the significance of Christmas. St Soldier School
It was a time of revelry and rekindling of past memories at St Soldier School, Mohali, as the annual get together of old students was organised on the eve of Christmas. Every heart was overwhelmed with emotions and remembrances making the ambiance nostalgic. To make the evening memorable one, students were made to play fun-filled games. A mesmerising performance was given by old students, which enthralled everyone and received a wholesome appreciation. Every one danced to the tune of alluring music and every heart felt elated to re-unite with their friends and cherish the moments to the fullest. The programme ended with serving of sumptuous and mouth-watering snacks. Isher Public School
Sant Isher Singh Public School, Phase VII, celebrated Christmas with enthusiasm here today. Students presented computer exhibition and computer slide show.Parents of some students were invited to judge the performances. The students were shown a movie on Christmas. Musical chairs, recognition of alphabets and colours were also organised. To encourage students, a drawing and painting competition and healthy tiffin competition were organised. Parents announced the names of the winners and distributed prizes. St Peter’s Academy
Patiala: Students of St Peter’s Academy, Patiala, celebrated Christmas yesterday. Tableau on Jesus Christ’s birth was shown, carols were sung and cake was distributed among students. School principal Sister Janet Joseph and Father Henry Lewis asked students to love humanity and help the poor and needy. They wished them a happy winter break and prosperous New Year.
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NSS camp concludes
Chandigarh, December 24 The valedictory ceremony was marked by an array of competitions like painting, debate, quiz contest and poem recitation competition. Chief guest Saroj Mittal, district education official, urged the students to make social service an integral part of their lives.
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Old-age home at PU proposed
Chandigarh, December 24 Claiming that the initiative has provided a ray of hope to the aged employees and alumni of the university to spend their remaining years of life, Prof RK Sharma, member of Helpage India and fellow,
PU, said: “There is a need of such old- age homes in the institutions which have in-built campuses. The greatest challenge is formulating appropriate responses.” He also stressed that guidelines by Helpage India should be taken into consideration while constructing the old age home on the campus. Meanwhile, vice-chancellor, Prof RC Sobti has issued direction to invite applications for reservation in the old-age home.
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50 units of blood collected
Chandigarh, December 24 NSS programme official Satish Kumar Sama and Ajay Dogra along with sarpanch Davinder Kumar, Kishangarh, under the guidance of principal Vibha Ray and state liaison official (NSS) Bikram Rana supervised the camp where over 50 units of blood was collected.
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Chandigarh, December 24