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Hike in petrol, diesel prices to hit state’s economy
Want varsity status? Fulfil norms, CM tells pvt colleges
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PMC issues notices to 27 doctors Chandigarh, February 6 The state government has asked the Punjab Medical Council (PMC) to cancel the licences of 27 doctors in the state against whom cases have been filed in courts, accusing them of indulging in “sex determination”, violating the PNDT Act. Following the directive, notices have been issued by the PMC under Section 23 of the PNDT Act on these doctors forcing the President (Elect) of the IMA, Dr Amrit Sethi, to write an SOS letter to the President of the PMC asking the body to refrain from cancelling licences of doctors “without hearing the doctor concerned and inquiring into the facts of the case”.
Bal Thackeray’s effigy burnt
Badal flays UPA for price rise
10 Ravidassi leaders held
CCTV Camera In Boys’ Toilet
Brandis Prize for Luna
Jathas to boycott pilgrimage to Katasraj
Procurement Pangs
Anti-Polio Day Today
Rs 4.7 cr distributed among schools
Author Dhir to get free medical aid
Punjab Science Congress today
Punjab to come up with remission policy soon
PhD through video-conferencing
City Centre Scam
Couple killed in Malerkotla
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Hike in petrol, diesel prices to hit state’s economy
Jalandhar, February 6 Sentiment was already low in the trade and industry owing various reasons. The hike in price would further impede the development of industrial and other sectors of the economy,
he said. President of the Punjab unit of the Petrol Pump Owners Association JP Khanna said Haryana and Chandigarh would be major gainers from the hike made in petrol and diesel prices in Punjab. At present, the state taxes on petrol had gone beyond 33 per cent. It includes 27.5 per cent VAT, 2.75 per cent surcharge, 2 per cent cess and 1 per cent octroi. The sale price of petrol in this city would be in range of Rs 50.37 per litre and diesel it would be in range of Rs 32.79. Because price of petrol is substantial on the higher side in the state compared to other states in the region, its sale was stagnant at about 5,000 kilolitre in the state for the past three years. It should have gone up to 6,500 kilolitre keeping in view the 10- 12 per cent addition in the number of vehicles in the state
every year. “In Ambala, petrol will be cheaper at about Rs 6 per litre compared to Punjab,” he said. “I am certain that fuel pumps in Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda would be out of business soon,” he said, adding that all these districts share their border with Haryana and people of nearby areas would prefer to buy petrol from that state instead of their own districts. “Moreover, it would lead to smuggling of petrol at a huge scale,” he said. Earlier, diesel was cheaper in Punjab compared to Haryana, but it was no more the case, he added. The Sukhbir-Kalia committee had promised to do away with the octroi on petrol and diesel while imposing surcharge on it. But this promise had not been kept. He said the state government would earn a revenue of Rs 1,000 crore from hike in petrol and diesel price and entry tax on certain items, but it was not prepared to abolish octroi on petrol and diesel from which income was just about Rs 31 crore.
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Want varsity status? Fulfil norms, CM tells pvt colleges
Jalandhar, February 6 The Chief Minister said three new universities had been set up in the state, a world-class university in Amritsar, Central University in Bathinda and Guru Granth Sahib University in Fatehgarh Sahib. He said another university had been planned in Ludhiana in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, USA. He said the foundation stones of 13 colleges in Punjab would be laid in the last 10 days of this month. “Twenty-one Adarsh schools are also in the pipeline,” he added. Badal announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for Lyallpur Khalsa College. Later, during an interaction with mediapersons, the Chief Minister did not give much response to the issue pertaining to controversies over the Ravidass Dharam. “I appeal to the masses to maintain communal harmony in the state,” he said. Asked about his reaction to the assault on the senior deputy mayor here, he said, “It is quite unfortunate. The guilty will have to face action.” The college celebrations were marked by a cultural programme, Jashn-e-Shatabdi. Punjabi singers and alumni of the college, including Malkit Singh, Sarbjit Cheema, Dalwinder Syalpuri, Roop Lal Maqbool and Jassi Sohal performed on the stage.Students of the college presented a cultural programme. Balbir Kaur, president of the governing council, said the college was providing education to more than 6,000 students, including 2,600 girls, in 50 courses in humanities, commerce, sciences, computers and physiotherapy.
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PMC issues notices to 27 doctors
Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 6 These cases have been pending for a long time, but with the ruling SAD’s Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur launching the “Nani Chaan” programme, the new team of the PMC has decided to implement the PNDT Act firmly. He has in his letter to the President of the PMC said, “We at the IMA are of the opinion that selective foeticide of the female foetus is a heinous crime and any person who is party to the act of “sex determination” including the woman, the husband as well as the sonologist who does a “sex determination scan” and the person who causes her to miscarry should all be suitably punished according to the law as provided under the PNDT Act”. But having said this the letter goes on to read, “However, as there has been a lot of hype in society as well as the media associated with this topic, there are certain elements in our society that are keen to bring harm and disgrace to the medical fraternity. Apart from genuine cases, there have been some cases in which frivolous complaints have been filed in courts against doctors”. Dr Sethi has said, “Bring the black sheep to book. But persons who have only been wrongly and falsely implicated should not face the same axe merely on the basis of an allegation of wrongdoing”. Section 23 of the PNDT Act prescribes punishment for violation, which is imprisonment up to three years and with fine up to Rs 10,000 for the first conviction and a five-year jail term with Rs 50,000 fine for subsequent conviction. Besides, there is provision for cancellation of guilty doctors’ licences for two years after the first offence and permanently if found guilty the second time. Dr Sethi has asked the PMC not to cancel the licence of any doctor till the time the doctors are found guilty by a competent court. “We feel that the PNDT Act, section 23 (2), when read along with Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002 section 7.6 and section 8.2; places a big responsibility on the shoulders of the State Medical Council. The council has to take a decision as to when and what action has to be taken against a doctor in the event of a complaint / recommendation against him”. The IMA has asked for a committee to be set up to go into details in such cases so that a proper procedure can be followed so that the guilty do not escape and the innocent do not get punished.
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Bal Thackeray’s effigy burnt
Amritsar, February 6 Bassi said Maharashtra was not the personal property of the Thackeray clan. He said they were issuing statements against north Indians only for gaining political mileage and fuelling regionalism, which was dangerous for the country’s unity and integrity. He said the visit of Rahul Gandhi had snubbed them in their den.
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Badal flays UPA for price rise
Amritsar, February 6 “A recent survey found that 40 per cent families in the country have a daily income of Rs 60,” he added. He was here today to participate in annual day function of the Shahid Ganj Khalsa Memorial School, the place where 13 Sikhs were gunned down on the Baisakhi of 1978 that triggered a decade long militancy. While commenting on recently issued statements of leaders of Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Badal advocated necessity to detect and evaluate reasons behind such statements. He said analysts could detect whether the reasons were socio-economic or political and the government could rectify the same. He said all the communities must co-exist peacefully, compatibly and harmoniously to ensure growth and progress of all in the country. Besides, he said the Union government needed to take internal security of the nation more seriously and on top priority. Announcing Rs 5 lakh grant to the school, Badal said it was of paramount importance to impart modern education along with religious and spiritual understanding to the students.
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10 Ravidassi leaders held
Jalandhar, February 6 Confirming the arrests, DC Ajit Singh Pannu told The Tribune that the suspected persons had been taken into custody as they were planning to remove Guru Granth Sahib forcibly from some religious places due to which the feelings of a community could have been hurt. In reply to a question, he said more persons planning to do the same would be arrested soon. He asked this correspondent to contact SSP RK Jaiswal for further details, but the latter could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Most of the arrested persons belong to the BSP and Ambedkar Sena (Mool Niwasi). All these persons were taken to Sadar police station after taking them into custody from their respective houses located in different parts of the district. However, later some persons were released whereas three are still in police custody. According to police sources, the three persons including Ambedkar Sena (Mool Niwasi) state president Harbhajan Suman, its activist Brajesh Kumar Gauri and a local BSP leader Sukhwinder Tony have been booked under Sections 153 A, 295, 295 A and 120 B of IPC. The police sources further said the places of several other Ravidassis allegedly instigating their community members were also being raided to arrest them. One of the released persons, Sukhwinder Kotli, state general secretary of the BSP and sarpnach of Kotli Than Singh, told The Tribune a police party including Sadar SHO raided his house at around 4 am. They were asked to accompany them on the pretext of their meeting with some senior police officials. Later he and some other persons including Dharampal Lesriwal were released after other BSP leaders met the DC and the SSP in this regard. Criticising the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government for harassing Ravidass community members, Kotli said they would soon react according to the future course of action being decided by BSP state president and Rajya Sabha member Avtar Singh Karimpuri.
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DEO writes to board for action against school
Chander Parkash Tribune News Service
Abohar, February 6 The DEO, in a letter written to the secretary, Punjab School education Board, Mohali, has urged him to take strict action against the school authorities. It may include disaffiliation and derecognition of the school from the board. The matter in connection with the installation of the CCTV camera came to light yesterday and it sent shock waves among the residents of this border town. While talking to The Tribune, Harbans Singh said he had also written a letter to the SDM, Abohar, Amit Dhaka, to take legal action against the school authorities if they had illegally installed a CCTV camera in the toilet being used by the boys studying there. He said an investigation team led by Gurjeet Singh that was sent by him to the school premises yesterday to make an on- the-spot verification of the allegations being levelled against the school authorities in the electronic media, found the allegations true. He added that the Principal of the school had also admitted that he had installed the CCTV camera without taking the consent of the school management. The principal also told the investigation team that the CCTV camera was installed in 2007 with the aim that students who might cause damage to school property could be captured in the cameras. The DEO said what the authorities of Divine Light Senior Secondary Public School had done was unethical and neither the
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Brandis Prize for Luna
Jalandhar, February 6 Luna, also state Chief Wildlife Warden, has been given this award for his research paper contributed to The Indian Forester, a journal on forestry, which is being published since 1875 by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. Luna is the only IFS officer in the state cadre to get such an award. His research was on production of quality seedlings under agro-net shade and direct sunlight.
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Jathas to boycott pilgrimage to Katasraj
Amritsar, February 6 The All-India Hindu Shiv Sena Sangathan had sent a list of a 35-member jatha for visiting Katasraj. “No Hindu will sign this undertaking,” said Sudesh Sehgal, a resident of Ferozepur, while showing a copy of the declaration. He pointed out that instead of asking them to sign the declaration, the government should take up the issue of providing security with their Pakistani counterpart. Meenakshi of Jalandhar said that on the one side, the Indian Government had proposed foreign secretary level talks for developing a cordial atmosphere between the two countries, while on the other it failed to ensure the pilgrims’ security during their visit to Pakistan. Raj Sadosh adds from Abohar: There will be no pilgrimage to the Shri Katasraj shrine complex in Punjab province of Pakistan on this Mahashivratri. While confirming this, Rakesh Nagpal, general secretary of the Shri Ramayan Pracharini Sabha told The Tribune that the decision to not send the jatha had been taken by the Kendriya Sanatan Dharam Sabha headed by Shiv Partap Singh Bajaj, who had been leading the jatha most of the time in the past. About 200 pilgrims were to celebrate Mahashivratri at the holy complex by leaving for Lahore early next week. The plan had to be dropped as the OSD in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had informed them that the applicants seeking visa would have to attach an affidavit declaring that they will be visiting Pakistan on their own risk. This had irked the aspirants.
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Don’t need FCI, says state
Faraz Ahmad/Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 6 Delivering the written speech of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at the CMs’ conference on food prices here today, state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon said: “As the Food Corporation of India (FCI) doesn’t have the requisite infrastructure, I request that Punjab should be linked directly to the states, where the food grain could be shifted, without involving the FCI. This would ensure that poor don’t suffer and surplus crop in Punjab doesn’t rot.” He said the effort of Punjab farmer is going down the drain as the benefits of extraordinary production is not reaching to the consumers, courtesy the faulty delivery system of the FCI. “The movement of food grain from Punjab is inadequate and slow. There is no dedicated infrastructure,” he added. Complaining that huge stocks of rice and wheat are rotting in absence of procurement, Kairon said, “At present around 76 lakh MT wheat and 45 lakh MT rice is lying out in the open in my state.” Asserting that there was no food shortage, Badal, in his message, claimed: “We are likely to procure 75 lakh MT rice in the next two months and in the rabi season, Punjab is likely to procure 115 lakh MT wheat. The state is likely to have more than 300 lakh MT stock of food grains.”
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One virus, another vaccine for some dists
Amaninder Pal Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, February 6 Earlier the same authorities have used the type one vaccine in mop-up rounds when the type one virus was detected in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali. Three mop- up rounds were undertaken in these districts as well as their surrounding ones at the fag end of last year. Now the type three vaccine is going to be administered to children in these districts as well as Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Moga, Patiala, Barnala and Sangrur districts. Though experts unofficially say that they, too, are confused by the turnaround in the government policy, the health authorities claim that monovalent vaccine being used now is more effective than the polyvalent variant. State Immunisation Officer VK Goyal said the department did not have any authority on the issue, which was finalised by the Centre. He, however, admitted that it was the first time in the state that the monovalent vaccine was being used during the National Immunisation Day (NID) round. An expert said after three mop-up rounds of monovalent type I could anybody claim that there will not be any case of type-I in future? He said it would be better if the polyvalent vaccine (containing vaccine for all three types of polio virus) was used in the present round. Though authorities claim that chances of revival of type-I are very low after the mop-up rounds of last year, the reality is that both the positive cases of type-I polio were detected after five rounds, during which vaccine against type-I was given to children of migratory population. Interestingly, administration of trivalent vaccine was skipped in Mohali during the first round of the NID of January 10.
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Rs 4.7 cr distributed among schools Patiala, February 6 Rakhra said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had issued various instructions to uplift the standard of government schools in the state. Rakhra said the development of a country depended upon its education system. “Therefore, we must lay stress on educating each and every child of the nation”, he added. Rakhra said, “In order to provide primary education to students, the Punjab government under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan has upgraded 45 schools of Patiala in year 2009-10 and Rs 7.89 crore was spent on construction of rooms in 149 primary and upper primary schools. He also said around 5,500 children, who did not go to schools, were identified in the year 2009-10 and were being taught in 270 AIE centres of the district. Also Rs 17 crore were spent on Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan in that year. Raj Khurana, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, finance, said the Congress government had left 53,000 crore dept on the government during their tenure which had now been recovered and the government was running in profit again. On the occasion, DC Deepinder Singh said the district authorities under the SSA had opened a residential school in which 100 students with the help of the Red Cross would be provided free education and stay and also the operations of many students had been carried out with their help. The DC also requested sarpanches to ensure that the given amount was used for developing school infrastructure under their supervision. Ajaib Singh Makhmailpur, district president of the SAD (Rural); Mahinder Singh Lalwa, chairman of zila parishad; Hamir Singh Ghagga, ex-minister; Balwant Rai, Patiala president (city), BJP; Harinderpal Singh Tohra zila parishad member, Surinder Verma, DEO (Secondary); and Harvinder Kaur, DEO (Primary); were among those who were present.
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Author Dhir to get free medical aid Chandigarh, February 6 Disclosing this here, a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s office said Badal had assured the family of Dhir that the state government would ensure proper medical treatment and care to the ailing writer, who had rendered outstanding contribution towards the promotion of Punjab, Punjabi language and Punjabiat culture throughout his life. The Chief Minister reiterated that the Punjab government was fully committed for the welfare of all literary personalities who had relentlessly served the motherland and it was a humble gesture on the part of government to extend free medical aid to noted writer Santokh Singh Dhir.
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Punjab Science Congress today Chandigarh, February 6 The Science Congress which is being organised under the aegis of Punjab Academy of Sciences, will see experts drawn from India as well as abroad deliberate on the very topical theme of ‘Climate change: concerns and solutions’. The keynote speaker is Prof PC
Kesavan, FNA, and distinguished fellow, MS Swaminathan Foundation,
Chennai, would also
be present. Prof GS Khush, University of California, would take up the issue of food security and climate change in his plenary
lecture. Other distinguished speakers such as Prof Sehdev Kumar, University of Waterloo, Canada; Prof SS Johl, Agricultural Economist; Prof SS Gill, Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University, Faridkot and Prof RC Sobti would address the gathering on diverse issues ranging from environmental degradation to cloning and stem cell research. The three days will have a gamut of parallel technical sessions under the broad sections of agriculture and environment; biosciences and biotechnology; applied chemistry, applied physics, sugar technology, food technology and textile chemistry; chemical, mathematical and physical sciences; engineering Sciences; medical and veterinary sciences as well as socio-economics. The lifetime achievement award will be conferred upon Prof RP Bambah, former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University and a mathematician of international repute. Towards this end, young scholars drawn from various science disciplines will also be honoured during the course of the Congress. Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab, would be the guest of honour at the valedictory function.
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Punjab to come up with remission policy soon Chandigarh, February 6 Bajwa also informed the Bench that a similar controversy was pending adjudication before the first Division Bench of CJ Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh; and was scheduled to come up for hearing on February 15. Taking up the assertion on record, Justice Bhalla adjourned the matter on March 5. The policy is expected to be forwarded to the council of ministers after receiving the nod of the minister concerned. Taking cognisance of the casual manner surrounding the grant of remission to a child rapist, Justice Bhalla had issued the directions on an appeal
filed by a Jharkhand resident, Supan Murmu. In an apparent move to prevent miscarriage of justice due to cutback in the sentence of the rapists, Justice Bhalla asserted the deputy advocate-general for the state of Punjab “has placed on record a copy of order dated August 14, 2008, by the virtue of which remission was granted to the appellant, who was convicted and sentenced under Section 376 of the IPC for committing rape on a minor girl aged about three-and-a-half-years only”.
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PhD through video-conferencing
Patiala, February 6 University officials said they wanted to facilitate foreign students to carry out their studies without being physically present on the campus. The authorities said Gurvinder would do his thesis on “Canadian Punjabi Media: Survekhan ate Mulakan”, that aimed at exploring the genesis, growth, social and cultural parameters of print media and radio in Canada. —
TNS
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City Centre Scam Rajneesh Lakhanpal
Ludhiana, Feburary 6 Special Public Prosecutor Mitter Sain Goyal completed arguments for framing charges against 16 accused persons. He is likely to conclude his arguments for remaining accused on next hearing. After hearing the arguments, the court adjourned the case for Feburary 27. The public prosecutor reiterated the allegations levelled against the accused persons in the charge sheet filed by the Vigilance Bureau. He stressed for framing charges against these persons with the plea that they all connived with each other to cause loss of crores to the state exchequer. He also referred the document claiming to be showing the involvement of these persons.
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Couple killed in Malerkotla
Malerkotla, February 6 The couple was living all alone in their house as one of their sons was a solider in the Indian Army and other was living in foreign. The couple was murdered brutally with the help of sharp-edged weapon. Plundering was said to be the cause of murder, as the murderers also took away gold ornaments and other valuables from their residence. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC against unknown persons. Forensic expert team and dog squad were called from Patiala to investigate the case. —OC
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