Chandigarh, August 9
Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisee Kings XI has been asked to pay Rs 50 lakh as entertainment duty for matches held at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium in Mohali after March 31 this year.

Earlier, the excise department had issued notices to Kings XI in May, bringing to the franchisee’s notice that it would have to pay entertainment duty due to a change in the excise laws in the state.

The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) was exempt from entertainment duty earlier even as 125 per cent duty was charged for all sports and cultural events. In his last budget speech, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal announced the state’s intention to reduce entertainment duty to 25 per cent. The excise department has taken the view that the exemption given to the PCA was only till March 31 and that following this the Cabinet had taken a decision to charge entertainment duty of 25 per cent, which is applicable to everyone.

The franchisee had taken the plea that all state governments had exempted the BCCI (Board for Control of Cricket in India) from paying entertainment duty and that Punjab should do likewise. The franchisee spokesman was unavailable for comment.

State Excise and Taxation Commissioner A Venu Prasad confirmed that Kings XI had been asked to deposit Rs 50 lakh as entertainment duty with the duty for each match being calculated at Rs 25 lakh. He said the duty had been calculated on the basis of average of receipts of tickets sold during the matches.

Sources said with the state’s decision to charge entertainment duty for all IPL matches played at Mohali, the franchisee had the option of shifting the venue for Kings XI matches to Dharamsala where it was not subjected to the duty. 

Mohali, August 9
In the disproportionate assets case against the Badals, the Special Court today grilled investigating officer (IO) Surinder Pal for deviating from contents in the challan presented in the court.

Special Judge Rajinder Aggarwal literally gave a dressing down to the IO while questioning him for over an hour in the presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal here today.

Taking up the case around 11 am, the Special Judge asked the IO, the Registrar of Companies, to produce documents and details of the share holding of Orbit Resort Private Limited Corporation.

After the registrar said the record from 1997 to 2002 has been destroyed, the Judge asked him to bring details about the share capital of the company.

While questioning the IO, also Joint Director (Vigilance), the court asked him whether he had read the contents of the challan and signed the documents. The IO said a team of officials headed by DIG BK Uppal had prepared the challan and being his subordinate, he could not question the DIG.

The Judge asked him whether the challan was right or his statement, he said both were right. When the IO was evasive, the Judge asked about other documents that he had signed.

After recording the statement of the IO, the case has been fixed for September 1. Another witness, SK Srivastva, a chartered accountant, was also called by the court today. On the last hearing on August 2, three crucial witnesses were examined for their role in loan transactions of Rs 1.16 crore shown by the Badals in their income tax returns.

In 2003, the state Vigilance Bureau had registered a case of corruption and disproportionate assets against the Badals under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120 B of the IPC and relevant section of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Chandigarh, August 9
Punjab’s entrepreneurs seem to have grounded Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s favourite Adarsh school scheme envisaging state-of-the-art education for the weaker sections of society in each Assembly constituency in the state.

The scheme seems to be tottering with only the Bharti Group opening four schools in the state till now under the scheme. Nineteen other schools are underway and are likely to become operational by next year.

Badal had initiated the Adarsh scheme during his earlier stint as the CM in 1997. Then the Punjab School Education Board was given the responsibility of establishing nine Adarsh schools. During the initial phase of his present stint, the CM presided over a meeting in Delhi and invited Punjabi entrepreneurs to take part in the scheme. More than 100 schools were “booked”. However, it does not seem more than a quarter will see light of the day.

State Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur when questioned on the issue said the scheme would be a success even if half of the schools came up. She said some of the features of the scheme, including the fact that no fee would be charged for providing top quality education, were coming in the way with private partners wanting some charge to 
be put.

The minister said there were also issues of entrepreneurs wishing to open schools in the area of their operations only.

Under the present scheme, panchayats have given land free of cost for the establishment of Adarsh schools. The government is committed to pay 50 per cent cost for the construction of buildings as well as 70 per cent of recurring expenses.

The state has even tried to give a fillip to the scheme in January this year by agreeing to a proposal that entrepreneurs would continue to retain the land given to them in case the scheme was abandoned. The maximum number of students eligible for admission has been increased from 1,000 to 2,000. Private players also want to use the premises for running vocational courses during non-school hours.

Meanwhile, even as the Adarsh school scheme has failed to have much impact, the state government programmes to establish model schools in backward blocks in one year itself.

The minister said 21 model schools had been established in the state and that they had started functioning from the current academic session.

She said the schools, which had been established at a cost of Rs 3 crore each, had hostel and transportation facilities.

The schools, which have been established on the Adarsh school model by the state, also offer education free of cost.

Patiala, August 9
Power consumers all over the state are facing extreme inconvenience on account of the non-acceptance of the power bills amounting to Rs 10,000 in cash.

Though, the bills issued by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) clearly mentions that bills up to Rs 10,000 can be deposited in cash at the PSPCL local offices, but the authorities are ready to accept bills in cash only up to Rs 5,000.

According to the complaints received in this regard from several consumers, they have demanded that PSPCL should immediately clarify the matter whether the instructions mentioned on the bills with respect to the payment are incorrect and if so, the same must be rectified at the earliest.

Ashish Singhania, a resident of Ludhiana, complained that he went to deposit two of his bills of his residential accommodation in Model Town at the PSPCL office in the industrial area-A, but had to come back because authorities refused to accept the bill of Rs 6,420 and 7,350.

“The authorities stated that they will accept bills in cash only up to Rs 5,000,” he claimed. He further said, when he approached
the authorities at the grievance cell of the PSPCL, they expressed their
helplessness and asked him to talk to senior authorities in Patiala.

“It is really ironical that PSPCL is such a big corporation, but has no concern towards the problems being faced by the consumers because of the casual approach of the authorities. The authorities at the PSPCL offices in Jalandhar are not ready to accept the bills in cash above Rs 5,000. I failed to understand why the amount to be accepted in cash was mentioned at Rs 10,000 on the bills,” said Lakhwinder Sngh, a Jalandhar resident, while adding that he verbally brought the matter in the notice of the PSPCL authorities at Patiala Head Office, but failed to get any satisfactory reply.

These are not the only cases as many other consumers from across the state told The Tribune that PSPCL must clarify what is the correct amount for payment of the power bills in cash.

However, PSPCL Chief Engineer (Commercial) GS Ghuman said, “The instructions issued by PSPCL are to accept the bills amounting up to Rs 5,000 in cash. In some particular PSPCL offices, the problem may have arisen because of the old stationery. Otherwise, the latest instructions are to accept bills up to Rs 5,000 in cash.”

But contrary to his claims, consumers in Bathinda, Amritsar and Patiala, too, claimed that they were facing inconvenience because of the confusion prevailing in the acceptance of the bills in cash. 

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 9
Widening of National Highway-1 and wrongly parked trucks loaded with scrap and iron material are taking its toll on people commuting on this stretch in Mandi Gobindgarh area for the past few months.

In last 15 days, six people have lost their lives on the G T Road due to the utter chaos that prevails on this stretch.

Four of a family got crushed under a truck, which got overturned on a Maruti Car last month. This was followed by another accident wherein a resident of Bassi Pathana was killed after being hit by a speeding car from rear side of his bike. Another resident of Mandi Gobindgarh was killed after an unidentified vehicle hit him last week.

Some Fatehgarh Sahib based NGOs, area residents of Mandi Gobindgarh and the traffic police officials too admitted the chaos due to the process of widening and wrong parking by the truckers.

“Large number of loaded trucks could be seen parked at both sides of the G T Road anytime. Most of these trucks belong to influential traders who have political connections”, said the general secretary of an NGO Hindu Organisation in Bassi Pathana. He pointed out that the former traffic incharge of the district was transferred as he had been awarding challan’s to the truck, tractors and other vehicles in large numbers.

The stretch from Khanna to Sirhind via Mandi Gobindgarh is the most dangerous and many accidents occur over this stretch everyday.

Banda said that the Bassi Pathana resident Naresh Kumar (47) was an LIC agent was killed on the spot when a speeding Indica Car hit his bike last week. He is survived by two daughters, a son and wife.

Mahesh Kumar, a resident of Sirhind and daily commuter alleged that he had hardly seen traffic police officials awarding challan’s to the truckers who park their loaded vehicles haphazardly.

Fatehgarh Sahib traffic incharge Vikas Sabharwal when contacted said that he is not suppose to disclose any details in this regard and only the senior police functionaries should be contacted over the issue. He stated that instead of Fatehgarh Sahib most accidents are taking place in neighbouring Patiala district.

Jalandhar, August 9
The General Court Martial (GCM) of Lt-Gen SK Sahni (retd), indicted for the dry ration scam, has been adjourned till August 18.Today was the third day of the court proceedings against the officer.

Sources at the 11 Corps Headquarters maintained that the GCM had been adjourned as General Sahni was looking for an independent defence counsel.

“Although Gen Sahni has his legal representative in this case, now he is looking forward to engage a defence counsel”, said an Army officer.

Talking to The Tribune, Defence PRO Naresh Vig confirmed that, “The next hearing of the case will now be held on August 18”.

The sources also maintained that although the movements of Gen Sahni were restricted in the wake of the GCM, he could move out of Jalandhar Cantonment with permission from the committee heading the GCM.

The GCM against Gen Sahni initiated on August 6. He was taken into custody by the military police from Military Hospital, Jalandhar Cantt on August 5. Gen Sahni is the highest-ranking Army officer ever to face a GCM.

Gen Sahni, who retired in 2006, had been facing inquiry by the Army into the expired rations purchased during his tenure as Director-General, Army Service Corps (ASC). He was indicted in the alleged irregularities in the supply of substandard meat and dry ration to the troops stationed at Siachen and other high-altitude areas.

Chandigarh, August 9
In the wake of the passing of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Informers) Bill to protect whistleblowers, the Punjab DGP has agreed to set up a nodal authority in the police headquarters here to deal with the complaints of RTI activists of Punjab.

In response to a representation submitted by the RTI Activists Federation, Punjab, DGP PS Gill has decided that a separate authority will deal with the complaints of RTI activists regarding institution of false cases against them and threats to their life and liberty etc.

The nodal authority is expected to be headed by an officer of IG rank who will look into all complaints of RTI activists. “We have been assured by the DGP that the officer’s mobile number as well as email ID will be available with all RTI federation members and other RTI users and he would be available even during emergencies,” said H.C. Arora, state president of the federation.

Arora had submitted a representation to the DGP, citing recent instances of the false cases instituted against the prominent RTI activists in Punjab. “The most recent case is the registration of a false case by the panchayat of Kittna village in Nawanshahr. The panchayat had alleged that Parvinder Singh Kittna, an RTI activist, had cut and stolen two trees. This FIR was nothing but a reaction to the RTI applications filed by Kittna seeking particulars of utilisation of panchayat grants. Kittna had no option but to seek anticipatory bail from a court,” said Arora.

Another FIR was lodged on the behest of cricket lords of Ludhiana against Sarabjit Singh Kahlon. He had to rush to the Ludhiana District Courts and then to the High Court to get an anticipatory bail. Kahlon has been fighting against corruption rampant in the selection of players for cricket matches for years.

In yet another case, Tejinder Singh of Ludhiana is being reportedly harassed for asking for information. “It was on his appeal that the State Information Commission imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Daljeet Kaur, DTO, Mansa. When Daljeet Kaur filed a petition in the High Court challenging this order, she attached a complaint sent by Gurdeep Singh, who had requested the SSP, Ludhiana, to take action against Tejinder Singh who, he says, is blackmailing public information officers,” added Arora.

Attari, August 9
The repeated violations of ceasefire by Pakistan troops in Jammu dominated the proceedings of the one-day India-Pakistan quarterly coordination meeting here today. The meeting was attended by a 15-member delegation of the Pakistan Rangers, led by Deputy Director General Brigadier Shafqat Nawaz Khan.

However, Khan categorically denied the allegations and launched a counter-attack, claiming that Indian forces had fired upon their posts many times, causing human and animal losses in his country.

As many as 10 ceasefire violations were reported in the Jammu sector in July, resulting in many casualties and injuries to the BSF jawans.

Answering a query posed by this correspondent before the meeting, he said he was not aware of the firing of rockets at this post of the Indian side for three times in the past one year. However, he alleged that the Indian troops fired upon posts in his country and then brought the media to malign Pakistan troops. He made the statement in the presence of senior BSF officials.

The Indian delegation, headed by DIG, BSF, C. Vasudevan, included DIGs from the Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan Frontiers and BSF Headquarters, New Delhi. Apart from them representatives of the Narcotics Control Bureau also took part

Amritsar, August 9
Relief to the people of the state, particularly NRIs and their kin, is still a distant dream as the Amritsar-London-Toronto direct flight remains cancelled despite an assurance extended by Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Notwithstanding the minister’s assurance, the Air India authorities are yet to resume bookings for the direct flight after October 31, even as it were open for the comparatively much despised alternative- the Amritsar-New Delhi-Toronto flight.

Sidhu said the flight would not be allowed to be discontinued. “Written orders may be on their way or I will bring these within a week. Under which circumstances can they withdraw the direct flight when it is going overbooked till August-end? I have already told this to the minister who probably was not explained by anybody that there was no lack of financial viability in respect of the flight, said Sidhu.

The status quo exists in respect of the cancellation of the direct flight and neither the Amritsar airport authorities nor travel agents have received any information about resumption of the flight so far.

The Air India had introduced the flight in 2005 and within a short period, it had become one of the most popular flights of the Air India.

“Bookings have not been resumed for the flight till date and the online computer reservation system (CRS) is showing that the same is open for the Amritsar-New Delhi-London-Toronto flight from October 31 onwards,” said DP Sondhi, former president of the Travel Agents’ Association of India.

Anil, Director of the Rajasansi International Airport, said as per information, there was no review in respect of the Amritsar-London-Toronto flight. “It will be too early to say anything on the issue. But so far we have not got any information regarding the resumption of the flight,” he said.

Having logged three years of successful operations, the Singapore Airlines had reportedly withdrawn its services from Amritsar in February 2009. Similarly, the Jet Airways had cancelled its Delhi-Amritsar-London flights two years ago.

Chandigarh, August 9
There is a sharp division within the Punjab Cabinet over the issue of approving a hike in bus fares in the state.

If the Cabinet approves the agenda, travelling in state will be costlier between 8 and 10 paisa per kilometre. But certain ministers have strongly opposed the hike at a time when the government is preparing itself to face the next general elections.

State transport buses running under the PRTC are losing about Rs 1 crore per day, while other state-owned transport services are also suffering losses following the hike in diesel prices. Though the move to hike fares was initiated by BJP leader and Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal, major opposition to the move has also come from the BJP leadership.

The bus fare hike forms part of the Cabinet agenda for its meeting on August 11. But due to pressure, the agenda may be dropped. The argument being given against the bus fare hike is that Punjab should follow the West Bengal model when the state has given a subsidy to the public sector transport to absorb the impact of the diesel hike. Since Punjab is a revenue deficit state, there are not many takers for the suggestion that the government should subsidise public transport.

The Cabinet has also decided to bring in a Rs 2,500 crore “urban package” for providing civic amenities in cities. But with reports about the BJP losing its hold in th urban areas, the government is keen to appease the urban voters by improving civic amenities, sewerage and water supply.

Though, the agenda of the Cabinet is yet to be finalised, the Punjab Government also proposes to bring to the Cabinet for approval the formation of Pun Media Society (PMS), whose main task will be to take over the publicity and advertising work of the government.

There is a proposal to bring about a “media policy” that will allow free travel in air conditioned buses to accredited journalists, besides providing them with medical insurance. The promise of granting a toll waiver to journalists has, however, not been implemented owing to certain technicalities. 

Kharar, August 9
The Drainage Department has issued notices to the people, who have encroached upon the bed of Jayanti Ki Rao rivulet in Kharar.Action has come after The Tribune highlighted encroachments in the rivulet bed, which may hamper free flow of the water. All encroachers have been directed to knock down their encroachments within 15 days or else face action.

As per department officials, notices have been issued to Daljit Singh and Gurmail Singh from Jagraon, who have erected fencing in their portion of land.

Notices have also been issued to the people in whose place hutments have come up. Interestingly, the owners of this land have given it on rent for hutments that were further sublet. These included Iqbal Singh, Balwinder Singh, Jagjit Singh, Harinderpal Singh, Sher Singh and Inderjit Kaur.

Patiala, August 9
Teachers of Punjabi University, Patiala, staged a protest at the office of Deputy Controller Local Audit Balbir Singh Sidhu today for causing unnecessary delay in auditing the past service of employees for time-bound promotions under career progression schemes. They alleged that despite repeated requests, he was not paying any heed to their genuine demands. The Department of Finance has twice conveyed to various government and university officials.

The Department of Higher Education also sent a memo (8/8/0/-461/1811-14) on January 16, 2008, to the registrars of various universities. This was done on the basis of the law laid down by the Punjab and Haryana HC and the Supreme Court in 1998. Registrar Manjeet Singh said there was no problem from our side. “The university has cleared these cases. Now, the decision is in the hand of DCLA.” According to the teachers, the DCLA said the decisions of the Syndicate have to be in accord with the state government policies. — TNS

Chandigarh, August 9
The state government has constituted a coordination committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary SC Agrawal to address pending issues of employees of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

A decision to this effect was taken yesterday by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a meeting with an eight-member delegation of the PSEB Engineers Association led by its president HS Bedi and general secretary Bhupinder Singh. The CM has assured the delegation that the state was fully committed to the welfare of all employees of the PSPCL and that there would be no change in service conditions for them.

He also directed the Chief Secretary to clear all issues by September-end. Badal said he was also taking up the issue of the early implementation of the CFL scheme in the state with the Bureau of Energy
Efficiency.

Emphasising the need to reduce the transmission and distributaries (T&D) losses, the CM asked members of the association to suggest ways and means to make the power sector more efficient and consumer friendly.

Patiala, August 9
The senior authorities of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited have issued instructions to employees/ officers of their respective corporation not to use the term Powercom and Transco in future.

A communication in this regard mentioned that the short name of Powercom for Punjab State Power Corporation Limited was not correct as per the provisions of Section 147 of the Companies Act-1956. “As per the Act requirement, publication of the name means the name with which the Company has been registered with the Registrar of the Companies,” the letter reads.

Notably, after the unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) in April this year, two companies — a Power Company (Powercom) to manage generation and distribution and another Transmission Company (Transco) to manage transmission functions were created. Since then, the short names of Powercom and Transco were being used in all official communications of the two companies.

However, recently, when it came to the notice of the higher authorities of both the companies that the short name of the Powercom and Transco are not correct as per the provisions of the Companies Act 1956, necessary instructions were issued to the entire staff to use the full name of the companies.

The instructions, a copy of which is with The Tribune, further reads, “If at all, use of the short name is required, for want of space or to avoid repetition in the documentary process, the term PSPCL can be used.”

Likewise, similar instructions have been issued to the staff of the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited. Now, instead of the short name Transco, the company name would be referred to as PSTCL in short. 

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 9
The district library of this historical town is crying for attention since its inception. The library came into being in 1992 and was shifted into the present building in 2002 and since then it is a picture of utter neglect.

A visit to the library building revealed that there were no boundary walls of the building and some teenagers were seen studying books and magazines using the light of their mobile phones in dark corners. There is one restorer, sewadar and a safai sewak in the library besides the district librarian.

Librarian, Iqbal Singh said that though the additional deputy commissioner of Fatehgarh Sahib paid visits to the library twice so far, but nothing had been done to improve the condition of the library.

He rued that there was no toilet, drinking water, tube lights, proper place to study and other basic facilities in the library.

“Pigs, dogs and other stray animals create chaos near the study rooms as there is no boundary wall of the library and the barbed wire has collapsed from many places”, said the librarian Iqbal Singh.

He revealed that the library was being run from a rented building and they were paying Rs 4754 every month as its rent. There are 18991 books in Punjabi, English and Hindi languages. The library officials said that they were getting books from Raja Ram Mohan Rai Trust, Calcutta and the Punjab Government hardly released any grant to purchase books or for any other purposes.

Former district librarian Jang Singh who proved instrumental in getting the building for library said that people did not find congenial atmosphere to read books or newspapers here. Though the membership fee is between Rs 200 and Rs 500 and it varies from students, government servants and local area residents but hardly anyone finds it suitable to study books or magazines here.

Chandigarh, August 9
The Punjab Police has recommended the initiation of departmental disciplinary proceedings against a superintendent of police and deputy superintendent of police in Kapurthala district resident Roor Singh’s custodial death case. Directions for the arrest of four cops have also been recommended, after a case of abetment to suicide was made out against them.

The recommendations came in an affidavit filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ajay Tewari. In an affidavit, Assistant Inspector-General (Crime) T.P. Singh asserted: “It has been proved that Roor Singh died due to the consumption of organo phosphorous, while in police custody, but not due to any injury.

“Roor Singh was a poor man and the police took Rs 93,000 into custody from his possession and he has five marriageable daughters. Therefore, it cannot be denied that due to this setback, he may have consumed poison…. A crime under Section 306 of the IPC is made out in this case.

“The conclusion of the investigation is that Roor Singh consumed poison and finished his life. There is no basis for offence under Section 304 of the IPC; and the suicide committed by him due to police action and his illegal detention in the police station has been proved”.

The report adds SI Gurmukh Singh, ASI Ajit Singh, MHC Manjit Singh and AMHC Gurnam Singh have been found guilty; and DSP (Bholath) Mahinder Singh and Kapurthala SP(D) Sukhwinder Singh should be proceeded against departmentally for failing to make Roor Singh’s custody safe.

Already, the high court has directed the payment of Rs 1 lakh as interim compensation to Roor Singh’s kith and kin. Roor Singh of Nurpur Jattan village had died in the Dhilwan police station in Kapurthala district allegedly due to poisoning during his illegal detention on September 4 and 5, 2009. After the incident, irate villagers had also blocked National Highway No.1 demanding immediate action against the guilty police officials. The arrest was made allegedly for possessing over Rs 92,000 in fake currency. Congress legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira, representing the Bholath state Assembly constituency, had alleged the accused were being shielded by the district administration at the behest of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal.

Moga, August 9
Reacting to a contempt of court case filed by the District Bar Association, a local court of Rakesh Gupta today sought a reply from the authorities concerned of the Punjab State Power Corporation as to why uninterrupted power supply was not being supplied to the court complex through the hotline system despite court orders.

Fixing August 11 as the next date of hearing in this case, the court has also asked the corporation to file a detailed report on power cuts and interruptions in power supply to the court complex during the past one month.

Nasib Bawa, president of the association, alleging that the power corporation had been flouting court orders for the past couple of years without realising the problems being faced by the judiciary, demanded from the court to take stern action against the authorities responsible for flouting the court orders.

A local court issued orders to the erstwhile power authority PSEB on March 4, 2006, to supply continuous power to the court complex through a hotline and during the period of power cuts, the power supply should be restored immediately by shifting to load on urban feeders.

Even a resolution in this regard was also passed in the Chief Justice’s conference held on August 14 and 15, 2009, asking the state government to supply continuous power to all subordinate courts during the working hours.

Bawa said most of the court work now was done on computers and power cuts often disrupted normal functioning of the courts. “The hotline is just for the name sake because it takes sometimes about an hour to shift load from one feeder to the other feeder”, he added.