NEIGHBOURHOOD

Olga’s Bail Plea
Next hearing on July 19
Tribune News Service

Ropar, July 13
The next hearing on Russian national Olga Timoshik’s bail plea in the court of Additional Session Judge Surinder Mohan has been fixed for July 19.

The matter came for hearing before the court today, wherein Olga’s counsel said Olga was working as a photojournalist and was to put up an exhibition on India.

He claimed that a few people in Moscow had protested against Olga’s arrest. He admitted that German national Thomas Keuhen, held for spying near Nangal, had handed over his passport to Olga.

Meanwhile, SSP LK Yadav said more information was being gathered on Olga’s visa. Around two years ago she came to India on business visa. “We are trying to find terms and conditions that allowed Olga to have a business passport and also to ascertain what kind of occupation she had mentioned while applying for the visa,” he said.

Also, information was being sought from the Nepal Embassy and Kathmandu to get details of the man who entered Nepal on the passport of Thomas Keuhen.

PNB Robbery
Six accused arrested

Patiala, July 13
The police today claimed to have solved the PNB robbery case, in which six motorcycle-borne youths had taken away Rs 1.85 lakh from the bank’s branch situated at Baran village on July 10.

Patiala SSP Ranbir Singh Khatra said the accused were arrested within 48 hours of the incident. The accused have been identified as Harjinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Gurdeep Singh, Mamnjit Singh and Parwinder Singh. He said the stolen money had also been recovered from them.

The police also recovered a sword, .32 bore revolver, .12 bore double barrel ruffle, an air pistol, live cartridges and three motorcycles bearing registration numbers PB-23 H 3279, PB 11 W 9641 and PB 11 AS 5421. They planned to loot the bank on July 9, but their plans could not materialise. However, they successfully robbed the bank on July 10. — TNS

Ambala, July 13
Ajay Chautala, INLD General Secretary and MLA from Dabwali, today visited flood-hit areas in Ambala.

He appealed to the Central government to release a grant of Rs 1,000 crore to assist flood-affected people.

He said a number of villages in Ambala and Kurukshetra were submerged in the flood.

He demanded dismissal of the state government for failing to extend help to people.

The MLA said the Haryana government had also failed to check corruption in the state.

“Such a government has no right to remain in power,” he added.

However, spokesperson of the Ambala administration said senior functionaries had been directed to coordinate with the state government so as to provide an instant relief.

“We have asked officials to stay connected and arrange a team of doctors so that relief could be provided immediately,” the official added.

Kharar, July 13
Guru Gobind Singh College of Modern Technology will hold a three-day technical teachers’ training programme (TTTP) nanotechnology from July 15 to 17.

Dr SS Bedi, director principal, GGS-Sachdeva Group of Colleges, will head the organising committee of the workshop. He said nanotechnology was the recent branch of technology and may soon have wide applications in the field of medical sciences and engineering.

Eminent scientist and technocrats have been invited to deliver lecture during the TTTP.

Dr Pawan Kapur, director, CSIO, Chandigarh, will inaugurate the event, while Dr NK Verma, dean of students’ affair, Thapar Institutes, Patiala, will deliver the keynote address.

Other speakers include Dr VK Jindal, Punjab University, Dr Narinder Singh (IIT), Dr IS Sandhu, principal, Chitkara Institute, Dr HK Kansal, UIET, Chandigarh, and Dr Ram Tandon, Delhi University.

Dr Ram and Dr Bhatti will jointly head the discussion panel. Faculty members participating in the programme are from LCET Katani Kalan, SUSCET Tangori, Rayat and Bahara Group of Colleges, Doaba College, Chitkara, SVIET etc.

Punjab Technical University will award certificates to participants.

Chandigarh, July 13
When Bank of Baroda dismissed Jai Kishan from peon’s post because he was over qualified, little did it realise that the Punjab and Haryana High Court would not only pass strictures, but also impose exemplary cost, after taking into account the insensitive approach.

Saddling the bank with costs of Rs 25,000, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “Middle pass needy Jai Kishan had applied for post of peon with Bank of Baroda through his application submitted in February 2000. On being found eligible, he was appointed during March 2000. He had hardly been into the service, when a complaint was received by the bank alleging he had concealed his actual academic qualifications to get this appointment.

“The allegation was not that he did not have the requisite educational qualification or that he had misled the bank in any manner. The complaint was that he was in fact more qualified being matriculate, but mentioned his qualification to be 8th standard pass. This was construed to be misconduct on his part and inquiry was ordered against him. Finding, the complaint to be correct, the petitioner bank acted against him.

“It was revealed he had appeared in the matriculation examination in 1991-92, but had not qualified. Strangely, the bank still decided to charge sheet him for making false statement and for concealing material facts regarding his qualifications.

Was this a misconduct committed by him serious enough to charge sheet him and ultimately to dismiss him from service? This question would certainly agitate any right-thinking mind....

“By no stretch of imagination he could be said to have passed matriculation to allege that he had made any false representation. Indeed, he was only 8th class pass and had disclosed so in the documents submitted by him. Insensitive to the situation, the bank and the inquiry officer held the charge proved. Equally insensitive, disciplinary authority imposed highly excessive and shock conscious punishment of dismissal and so a poor peon lost his livelihood.

Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “The bank was totally unjustified in proceeding against him and then to dismiss him from service. In any event, the punishment is highly excessive which in itself may be an indication of bias…. The Bank, in my view, has not acted in a fair and just manner against a poor employee, who has been dragged to this court and, thus, made to spent substantial sum of fortune.

“A poor peon has been made to fight an unequal battle by the bank without any justifiable cause. There is no merit in the bank’s petition and it deserves to be dismissed with an exemplary costs for making the poor person come up to this court.”

Chandigarh, July 13
For the first time in the city, a local court today issued summons to a woman’s family for giving dowry.

The court asked the girl, Baljinder Kaur, Tara Singh Thind, Jaswant Kaur, Ravinder Thind, Baldev Singh Thind, Nirmal Singh Thind and Mukesh Bhardwaj to appear before the judge on August 27.

The petitioner, Ravinder Singh Dhanju, a resident of Attawa village, married Baljinder Kaur at Hisar according to Sikh rites and got their marriage registered under the Hindu Marriage Act on November 6, 2005, in Chandigarh. The couple was blessed with a son on April 18, 2007. However, things fell out of place between the couple and Baljinder filed several cases against Ravinder.

In the FIR registered against Ravinder, Baljinder and her parents had admitted spending Rs 18 to 19 lakh on the wedding and claimed of giving 45 tolas of gold and cash in dowry.

Panchkula, July 13
The municipal corporation today sought time from the district court to file their reply in the case regarding the notice served to Budanpur residents to vacate its land. Residents of Budanpur village, in order to save their houses, had approached the court yesterday to get a stay on the recently served notice by the Panchkula municipal corporation to vacate the land.

The corporation today sought time from the court to file the reply. Judicial Magistrate Renu Rana ordered status quo and now the case will come up for hearing on July 16 before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Raj Gupta. The applicants Malkiat Kaur, Raunki Ram and Prakash, residents of Budanpur had alleged Panchkula municipal corporation had issued notices on June 28 to around 300 families residing in the village to vacate the land.

The applicant said after around seven days, the corporation again issued notice to them. They further said the land, which was in question, had already been settled in their favour in 1986 by the then collector of Kalka. But the corporation has now issued notice to them to vacate the land. Applicants further maintained that they were living in Budanpur from the past several years and they had even ration cards on their name but now the corporation was trying to vacate the land.

Chandigarh, July 13
The police has arrested two Ambala residents with 42 cartons of liquor from them near the Tribune roundabout here today morning.

However, the Police Control Room (PCR) personnel and the area police are staking claim of apprehending the accused. DSP (PCR) Roshan Lal said his staff had noticed a Maruti car (PB-51-2828) with black films and recovered liquor from it.

The SHO of the Sector 31 police station, on the other hand, said his men were chasing the accused at around 6 am when their motorcycle broke down and they sought help from the PCR to intercept the accused.

Chandigarh, July 13
The pre-quarterfinal stage of AITA Talent Series Tennis Tournament witnessed some big upsets at the CLTA courts here today.

In the pre-quarterfinal matches of girls (U-16), unseeded Bhavya Wadhawan upset eight seed Ayna Arora by 6-1and 6-2. Whereas, Aashima Garg sustained her performance in the court and defeated Sabrina Gill by 6-2 and 6-0 to book her tickets in quarterfinal.

In another match of same age group, Jennifer Luikham upset second seeded Nikita Bishnoi by 6-3 and 6-4.

On the other hand, Rishabh Sharda defeated seventh seed Rohit Kumar in straight sets by 4-2 each in the boys’ single (U-12) category.

In the boys’ singles (U-16) group, Amlan Jyoti Baruah overcame third seed Sean Yip in a three set match by 2-6, 6-4 and 6-2.

Whereas in another match of the same age group, seventh seed Nirbhay Singh Soin defeated Allen Johnson in a close match.

Nirbhay lost the first set by 4-6, but won next two sets by 6-1and 6-2.

In the girls’ singles (U-12) age group Jennifer defeated Avishka Gupta by 4-0 and 4-0, whereas Rubani Ahluwalia defeated Neelanchal Gupta by 4-2 each.

Results

Boys’ singles (U-12)

Yash Yadav (MP) defeated Sacchit Sharma (DLI) by 4-2 each Sagar Bains (CHD) defeated Aakarshit Mahajan (UP) by 4-0 each.

Karandeep Singh (PB) defeated Nitish Rehlan by 4-1 and 4-0 Sameer Vats (CHD) defeated Ankrish Khaana (CHD) by 4-0 and 4-1 Rishab Sharda (CHD) defeated Rohit Kumar (HAR) by 4-2 each.

Paramveer Singh Bajwa (CHD) defeated Leonardo Pamei (MAN) by 4-0 each

Aryaman Agarwal (MP) defeated Robin Kapoor by 4-1 and 4-0 Param Pun (CHD) defeated Kabir Manrai (CHD) by 4-2 and 4-1.

Boys’ singles (U-16)

Pranav Suri (CHD) defeated Anmol Sandhu 6-2 each

Jagtar Singh defeated Tegbir Singh Hara (PB) 6-4 each.

Ranjeet Singh (CHD) defeated Andrew Pradeep (CHD) 6-4 and 6-3 Sachin Kumar (CHD) defeated Paramveer Singh Bajwa (CHD) 6-1 each Nirbhay Singh Soin (GUJ) defeated Allen Johnson 4-6, 6-1 and 6-2 Amlanjyoti Baruah (ASM) defeated Sean Yip (CHD) 2-6, 6-4 and 6-2 Dheeranush Singh Bhatti (CHD) defeated Uday Pratap Singh (PB) 7-5 and 6-2.

Kamal Kishore Maderna (RAJ) defeated Sukrat Kashyap (DLI) 6-1 and 6-0.

Girls’ singles (U-12)

Abhisha Jindal (CHD) defeated Hanshika (CHD) 4-1 and 4-2 Jenifer Luikham (HAR) defeated Avishka Gupta (HAR) 4-0 each.

Sarah Dev (PB) defeated Taru Ahluwalia (CHD) 4-0 and 4-1 Seerat Pannu (PB) defeated Arzoo Choudhary (CHD) 4-2 and 4-0 Rubani Ahluwalia (CHD) defeated Neelanchal Gupta (CHD) 4-2 each Bani (PB) defeated Garima Mann (CHD) 4-0 and 4-0.

Girls’ singles (U-16)

Nikita (CHD) defeated Maitry Phukan (ASM) 6-2 and 6-3.

Bhavya Wadhawan (CHD) defeated Ayna Arora (CHD) 6-1 and 6-2 Arshpreet Mann defeated Priya Singh (MAH) 6-2 and 6-2 Harsimran Kaur (HAR) w/o Karishma Mehta (CHD).

Aashima Garg (HAR) defeated Sabrina Gill (CHD) 6-2 and 6-0 Gayatri Kumarian (CHD) defeated Valentina Shekhar (KAR) 6-3 (Concede) Pooja Mourya (PB) defeated Vibhuti Khullar (CHD) 6-3 and 6-2 Jennifer Luikham (HAR) defeated Nikita Bishnoi (CHD) 6-3 and 6.

Boys’ doubles (U-12)

Leonardo Pamei (MAN) Angrej Singh (CHD) defeated Kemp O’ Brien (CHD) and Saurabh Parashar (CHD) 1-4, 4-0 and 10-5 Rahul Verma (CHD) and Calvin Golmei (MAN) defeated Neeraj Yashpaul (CHD) and Anmol Rattan Kamboj (CHD) 5-3 and 4-2.

Kabir Manrai (CHD) and Sameer Vats (CHD) defeated Siddharth Basnet (ASM) and Jagdeep Singh (CHD) 4-2, 3-5 and 11-9 Sabrang Sandal (CHD) and Parmeet Singh Deol (CHD) defeated Ramanjot Singh (CHD) and Jagjeet Singh (CHD) 4-0 and 4-0.

Boys’ doubles (U-16) Nishat Eqbal (WB) and Srijan Uppal (CHD) defeated Gaurav Jyoti Sarma (ASM) and Amlan Jyoti Baruah (ASM) 4-1, 5-4 and 7-4 Nirbhay Singh Soin (GUJ) and Dheeranush Singh Bhatti (CHD) were out Samrat Rana (CHD) and Shivesh Tripathi (UP) were out Abhijeet Singh (CHD) and Santbir Singh (JandK) defeated Prabhsimran Singh Bal (CHD) and Yashvardhan Singh 5-4, 4-5(5-7) and 10-8 Ranjeet Singh (CHD) and Uday Singh Mann.

Chandigarh, July 13
Bhuvana Kalva upset third seeded Nehel Sahni of Delhi in the HTA-AITA Men’s and Women’s Tournament 2010 held at Jassowal, Ludhiana.

Bhuvana defeated Delhi lad in straight sets by 6-3, 6-3, whereas in girls’ category, Rajbir Kaur defeated sixth seeded city girl Ravnoor Kaur by 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

In another match, fifth seeded Sharmada Balu of Karnataka defeated Shruti Archita of Maharashtra by 6-1, 6-0, while Ambika Pande of Tamil Nadu blanked out eighth seeded Prabhamrit Kaur by 6-0, 6-0.

In the men’s category, fifth seeded Prosonjit Paul lost to Suraj Beniwal by 6-1, 6-2.

Results

Men’s singles first round: Jajbir Singh (Pb)(Q) defeated Rishabh Dev (Pb)(LL) 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-1);

Vishwesh Sinha (Mah)(WC) defeated Arjun Singh (Dli)(4) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5; Rithvik Anand (TN)(Q) defeated Vishwanath Savadi (Kar)(LL) 6-3, 6-2; Harry Jindal (Pb)(LL) defeated Rathindra Kakati (Dli)(LL) 6-1, 6-1; Prosonjit Paul (Jha)(5) defeated Adwait N Sadwilkar (Mah) 6-3, 6-3; Maninder Singh (Har) defeated Prashant Sawant (Mah) 6-1, 6-2; Arvind Vishnu Bestha (AP)(3)(Q) defeated Kamal Surana (Kar) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; Kshitij Kamal (Dli)(8) defeated Jatin Dahiya (Har)(Q) 7-6 (7-5), 6-0; Digvijay Singh Naruka (Chd)(LL) defeated Mandeep Kumar (Chd)(LL) 6-1, 6-0; Harpreet Singh Sidhu (Pb)(WC) defeated Veera Vasanth Venkatesh (Kar)(LL) 7-5, 6-4; Digvijay Singh Mehta (Chd)(LL) defeated Bharat Bhardwaj (Har)(2) 0-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Men’s singles pre-quarterfinals: Gurinder Singh (Pb)(1) defeated Sunny Dahiya (Har)(Q) 2-6, 6-0, 6-3; Saurabh Dilip Patil (Mah)(6) defeated Jajbir Singh (Pb)(WC) 6-0, 6-0; Vishwesh Sinha (Mah)(WC) defeated Rithvik Anand (TN)(Q) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3; GP Prajnesh (TN)(WC) defeated Harry Jindal (Pb)(LL) 6-0, 6-0; Suraj Beniwal (Har)(Q) defeated Prosonjit Paul (Jha)(5) 6-1, 6-2; Arvind Vishnu Bestha (AP)(3)(Q) defeated Maninder Singh (Har) 6-4, 6-1; Kshitij Kamal (Dli)(8) defeated Digvijay Singh Naruka (Chd)(LL) 6-2, 6-3; Digvijay Singh Mehta (Chd)(LL) defeated Harpreet Singh Sidhu (Pb)(WC) 6-1, 6-3.

Women’s singles pre-quarterfinals: Shweta C Rana (HP)(1) defeated Surya Tejaswini (AP) 6-2, 6-0; Gundeep Kaur (Pb)(7) defeated A Lubna Mariam (TN) 6-2, 6-2; Natasha Palha (Goa)(4) defeated Saadgi Rajani (Guj) 6-2, 6-0; Sharmada Balu (Kar)(WC) defeated Shruti Archita (Mah)(5) 6-1, 6-0; Rajbir Kaur (Pb)(WC) defeated Ravnoor Kaur (Chd)(6) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3;

Bhuvana Kalva (AP)(WC) defeated Nehel Sahni (Dli)(3) 6-3, 6-3; Ambika Pande (TN) defeated Prabhamrit Kaur (Chd)(8) 6-0, 6-0; Nupur Kaul (Mah)(2) defeated Bhavika Wadhwan (Chd) 6-0, 6-1.

Men’s doubles qualifying round: Hardeep Singh Honey (Pb) and Jaspinder Singh (Pb) defeated Arjun Bhalla (Mah) and Chinmay Madhu (Kar) 9-1;

Bhavtaran Preet Singh (Chd) and Harpreet Singh Sighu (Pb) defeated Sunil Dutt Kaushik (Har) and Amardeep Singh Jaglan (Har) 9-6.

Chandigarh, July 13
Ashu B Singh returned a nett score of 71 to clinch the silver division title in the July Medal Round of the Chandigarh Golf Club Ladies’ Competition here yesterday.

Neelu Chopra won the bronze division title carding a nett score of 73 with her nearest rival BM Singh finishing 12 strokes behind at 85.

The monthly medal round has been a regular feature of the golf club’s ladies’ section.