Jalandhar, August 12
Strong opposition from most of the Cabinet ministers led to the deferring of the proposal mooted to pay Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per appearance in various courts in special category cases to the law officers posted in the office of the Advocate- General, Punjab. The proposal came up in the Cabinet meeting yesterday.

Sources said the Home Department had put the agenda before the Cabinet in this regard. However, opposing the agenda, a majority of the ministers spoke against the proposal that led to its deferring.

Ministers argued that all law officers, including the Senior Additional Advocate-General and Additional Advocate-Generals, were getting substantial money as pay and hence there was no need to fix fee per appearance for such officials. Senior and Deputy Advocate-Generals and Assistant Advocate-Generals are paid salaries on the basis of pay scales recommended for them by the pay commission. But they are not entitled to do any private work. Some of the ministers even said that when their salaries were not being raised, what was the need to give special fee to law officers.

There are about 120 law officers in the AG’s office. In fact, the AG’s office is a top-heavy organisation. Whereas the number of Assistant Advocates-General is just 28, the number of Additional Advocates-General is about 60. The number of Senior and Deputy Advocates-General is 27. There is an Advocate-General and Senior Additional Advocate-General. Sources said even the Finance Department had also not agreed to the proposal of per appearance charges.

Except experience of some years, there are no criteria to select law officers. They are appointed on a pick and choose basis. Before appointment, no test is held to check their competence. Most of the law officers belong to influential families having ‘right connections’ at the government level. The principle of equality of opportunity is denied in a most blatant manner at the time of appointment of law officers, who appear in courts to fight for justice.

Chandigarh, August 12
The Punjab government has been on an employing spree, adjusting ruling alliance loyalists in existing and newly set up boards and commissions. The latest on the new list of boards and commissions is the Potato Development Board.

Since the beginning of this month, the government has appointed at least 50 chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and directors of various boards and commissions.

Punjab Transmission Corporation is also one of the latest additions to an ever-expanding list of boards, commissions and corporations of the state. Only yesterday, the Council of Ministers gave approval to creation of Punmedia Society that will handle advertising and publicity wings of the state.

Among the fresh appointments announced recently, Gurcharan Singh Babehali of Gurdaspur has been re-nominated Chairman of Milkfed.

Set up to improve the quality of potato besides ensuring a better marketing mechanism for this most affordable vegetable, the potato board will give recommendations to improve its quality and devising ways and means for its storage.

The 11-member Potato Development Board, to be headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, will has three non-official members -- Sukhjit Singh Bhatti, President, POSCON, Raghvir Singh, President, Jalandhar Potato Growers Association, and Jang Bahadur Singh Sangha, a farmer.

Only last week, the government had reconstituted the Punjab Khadi and Village Industry Board under the chairmanship of Vijay Sampla of BJP.

Seven new members nominated to the board are Ram Chopra (Kotkapura), Anwar Masih (Amritsar), Naresh Dhighan (Ludhiara), Sewa Singh (Pathankot), Jiwan Lal (Bhucho Mandi), Harpreet Singh Bedi (Ludhiana) and Manohar Singh Bhagowalia (Gurdaspur).

A journalist Krishan Lal Dhall of Jalandhar has been appointed Director, Administration, of the Punjab Transmission Corporation.

Gurcharan Singh Grewal has been nominated a member of the Punjab State Service Selection Board.

Fresh appointees -- Gurdip Singh, Harjit Singh Adaltiwala, Labh Singh Devinagar, Amrit Lal Aggarwal, Sanjiv Kumar Malhan, Balkar Singh, Bawa Singh and Col Darshan Singh (retd) -- have been named Vice-Chairmen of the boards of corporations to which they have been nominated as directors.

Avtar Singh Johal, Shivtar Singh Bajwa, Manjit Singh Khalsa and Charanjit Singh Lali have been appointed directors of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation. Likewise, Mohinder Kumar Aggarwal and Sardul Singh Sham are new directors on the Board of Punjab Small Industrial Export Corporation. Rajinder Gudu and Master Preet Singh Barlas are new directors of Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development Finance Corporation. Those joining the Board of Directors of Punjab Energy Development Agency are Viranjit Singh Goldy, Balbir Singh Dhillon and Rajinderpal Singh (Chiri Walia). Dalbir Singh Dhirowal and Jarnail Singh Mahal will join the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation. New faces on other boards are Ranjit Singh Kahlon, Sukhdarshan Singh Mehon, Major Singh Mauji, Satpal Beri, Gurpreet Singh Bannwali and Amarjit Singh Panjrath. 

Chandigarh, August 12
The Punjab Government has taken a decision to replicate what it calls “Ludhiana model of development” in all major cities of the state. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has said the power point presentation made by him before the industrialists, traders and intelligentsia of the industrial city is more in line with the blue print of development prepared for the entire state.

Quoting a World Bank study, the Deputy CM said since the state has been adjudged the best place in India for doing business, developmental initiatives started for the city would be taken to other cities. He announced various developmental plans for the city on Tuesday that include infrastructure like roads, flyovers, bridges, beautification plan and to provide additional infrastructure to focal points and the industrial areas.

Political circles are abuzz saying that the sudden shift of focus for development from the rural to urban areas, the announcement of an economic package of Rs 1,120 crore for Ludhiana is seen as not merely a pre-election move, but also as a move to take on the Congress and if need be the SAD alliance partners, the BJP, with both claiming an urban stronghold.

Major initiatives announced in Ludhiana include more power for the city from the power generation units at Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura and Goindwal Sahib that would be commissioned soon. Punjab, he disclosed, has initiated four thermal plants at the cost of Rs 36,000 crore to attain self-sufficiency in the power sector.

The eight projects inaugurated in Ludhiana included Railway Over Bridges (ROBs). Similar ROBs, nearly eight in number are ready for inauguration in Mansa, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bathinda. He has announced beautification of the canals in Ludhiana and improving road infrastructure alongside. Besides, the state government has envisaged a major project to clean the rivers in the state from sewerage. 

Patiala, August 12
Taking cognisance of a news report appeared in The Tribune on August 10, regarding the non-acceptance of power bills amounting up to Rs 10,000 in cash, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) authorities have regretted the inconvenience caused to the consumers on account of the confusion pertaining to the cash limit for depositing the bills.

Clarifying that the cash limit had been reduced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 5000, an advertisement issued in this regard by the PSPCL authorities mentioned that the decision to reduce the cash limit had been taken to decrease cash accumulation at PSPCL offices.

Notably, in wake of the fact that though the bills mentioned that consumers could deposit the bills amounting to Rs 10,000 in cash, the PSPCL authorities were only accepting bills upto Rs 5,000 in cash.

Interestingly, while on August 9 the PSPCL authorities had told The Tribune that the cash limit for accepting bills is Rs 5,000 and the problem cropped up on account of some old stationery at a cash counter, today’s advertisement clearly mentions that the limit has now been reduced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 5,000.

Though PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director KD Chaudhry was not available for comments, some officials ot the power board told The Tribune that the instructions had already been passed to the director (Billing) that necessary correction should be made on the bills that mention cash limit of Rs 10,000.

“The main objective behind issuing the advertisement is to make the consumers aware about the correct cash limit. Bills above Rs 5,000 can be paid through cheque or demand draft,” an official said. 

Chandigarh, August 12
In a major initiative to give a fillip to the textile industry in the state, Punjab Technical University (PTU) will establish a Rs 150 crore textile institute in Barnala in collaboration with the industry.

The textile institute, a technical teacher training institute in Jalandhar and the establishment of learning centres abroad are among the major initiatives which will be taken by PTU, its Vice-Chancellor, Dr Rajneesh Arora, said during an interaction here today.

Speaking about the textile institute, Dr Arora said PTU was likely to put in the major share in the institute, which would be established in collaboration with a consortium, including Vardhman, Nahar, Arti and Saluja companies. He said the aim of the institute was to create a state-of-the-art training atmosphere by importing the latest machines used in the textile industry. The consortium, which would also put the desired faculty, would design the training capsule.

The Vice-Chancellor said 20 acres had been earmarked for the institute that would be run by a society, including PTU, industry and Punjab Government representatives.

Dr Arora also disclosed that PTU had written to the state government to allow it the use of space earlier being used by it at Ladhowali in Jalandhar for a technical teacher training institute. PTU, which has three lakh students studying in institutions affiliated to it as well as distance education centres, will also establish learning centres abroad this year. The VC said initially PTU would open centres in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal and following this in Gulf countries.

Dr Arora said merit seats had more or less been filled in the 93 engineering colleges in the state. He said a clear picture would emerge after the university received a report on the management quota seats. However, what has emerged is that only half of the 9,000 seats available for Scheduled Castes candidates in engineering colleges have been filled till now. Only 4,000 to 4,500 Scheduled Castes candidates have applied for admission in the colleges affiliated to the university.

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 12
Lack of government-owned cranes and towing vehicle has forced traffic cops at Fatehgarh Sahib to seek help of private operators, especially during road accidents. As a result, the cops come under “obligation” of not challaning the heavy moving vehicles of these private operators, mainly construction companies, despite the fact that these vehicles care two hoots for law.

Working without even basic equipments needed to tow out mangled remains of accidental vehicles, the traffic cops have no other option but to turn a blind eye to violations by these companies.

“At times we have to ask the owner or driver of the vehicle that gets stuck to pay the charges of crane, “said a traffic police official.

The cops said the number of accident have increased due to haphazard parking of heavy vehicles on roadside.

“No one checks these heavy vehicles moving on road at their own sweet will. It’s a wonder why the police does not take notice of such blatant violations,” said Rajesh, a resident of Mandi Gobindgarh.

Meanwhile, pleading anonymity, a traffic police cop said: “We have no option but to take help from contractors of private companies. Fatehgarh Sahib seems to be the only district where traffic police does not have equipments to tow vehicles. Officially, we do not have any tie-up with private operators, but at the same time the government also does not provide us with an alternative arrangement.”

Sirhind traffic in charge Hemant Kumar also admitted that they did not have any crane or a towing vehicle and had to depend upon private operators.

Patiala, August 12
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal to conduct a detailed study of problems being faced by the students regarding bus passes.

Giving information in this regard, chairman of the Youth Development Board Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna said besides the Transport Minister, senior officials of Punjab Roadways, Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and State Transport Commissioner would be included in the panel.

It has also been decided that the committee would further form zonal committees and these would visit various educational institutions.

“The committee would come out with proposed solution, including routes on which requirement of students was greater, besides suggesting timings for the buses so that students do not face any problem,” Khanna added. He further said the committee would submit its report within a month to the Deputy Chief Minister. 

Chandigarh, August 12
Finally, it has been proved that Kuljeet Singh is not a drug addict.

Taken out of a de-addiction centre by a warrant officer appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, his medical examination revealed no traces of drugs. He had reportedly told the warrant officer that his son had got him admitted to the centre for usurping his property. In a report placed before Justice TPS Mann, Professor and Head of the PGI’s Psychiatry Department Dr P Kulhara asserted that there was nothing to suggest that Kuljeet was on drugs. The report added that he was suffering from thyroid, but hospitalisation was not required; and he could be allowed to go with trusted family member.

On his asking, the High Court permitted him to go with his sister, who had filed a habeas corpus petition for his release. Justice Mann had earlier taken cognisance of the “manner in which Rajwant, manager of the Jeewanjot organisation, acted at the time of the warrant officer’s visit”. Holding that “he has prima facie exposed himself to the liability under the Contempt of Courts Act”, Justice Mann issued notice to him “as to why he be not proceeded against under the Contempt of Courts Act”. He has now been granted time till August 31.

Chandigarh, August 12
Punjab’s former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh says he does not regret his involvement in the killing; and the death sentence awarded to him is a blessing in disguise. “I accept the same gladly,” he has asserted.

Facing the gallows, Balwant Singh had shot off a communication to the Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice expressing his desire against filing an appeal. The Bench of Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice Arvind Kumar took up the translated version of the letter this morning, as the appeals filed by other assassins and convicts through senior advocate Baldev Singh came up.

The letter says Beant Singh was the leader of a “tyrannical system” and was “nominated as Punjab Chief Minister all of a sudden by the Congress government at Delhi to oppress the Sikhs through him”.

The letter adds: “The custodians/ protectors of law themselves used to play the role of the judges, courts, police and also murderers. They were honoured with medals of bravery for doing so. This all has been done by Beant Singh, Chief Minister of the Congress, at the instance of Delhi.

“I have no regrets being a part of this murder. The death sentence awarded to me for this act is just like a blessing in disguise and I accept the same gladly and refuse to bow….”

The former Chief Minister was killed, along with 12 others, in an explosion outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat on August 31, 1995. RDX, stuffed in a belt, was used by human bomb Dilawar Singh to trigger off the blast.

Hawara and Balwant Singh are facing the death sentence. Three other convicts, Shamsher Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Lakhwinder Singh, have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Balwant Singh has already confessed his hand in the crime and has refused legal aid for contesting the death sentence. He has also sought the high court’s permission to appear before it personally.

The CBI apparently took about a week to find out that masterminds Jagtar Singh Hawara and Jagtar Singh Tara were involved in the crime. Their names surfaced on September 12, 1995, even though two co-conspirators, Lakhwinder Singh and Gurmeet Singh, were arrested and interrogated on September 5 the same year. 

Chandigarh, August 12
Lambasting an executive engineer with the Punjab State Electricity Board for failure to release connection to an agriculturist, Justice Surya Kant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asserted that poor farmers were made to languish in courts, while power connections were being given to colonisers and builders. Miffed over the way the “merit list” for the release of connections was being prepared and “manipulated”, Justice Surya Kant minced no words while saying the functionaries were hobnobbing with the builders and colonisers. 

At one point, Justice Surya Kant also directed the arrest of the executive engineer for his failure to turn up in the court. After many pleadings by a counsel, the Judge did not put the stamp of finality on the order, but directed him to come present before the Bench in the afternoon. As of now, directions have been issued for forthwith release of connection to the agriculturist; and records of previous five years have been summoned to see how the lists were prepared, updated or altered.

As Patiala resident Jaswant Singh’s petition came up for hearing, Justice Surya Kant asked the executive engineer to explain why he was not appearing before the Bench.

The attempts by the engineer to use strike by the PSEB employees as a shield to protect himself did not impress the Bench. After he said the strike had resulted in power failure in Baltana area and he was on his toes for restoration of supply, the Judge asked him to explain why he had stayed away from the court proceedings on previous hearings also. 

In the orders, Justice Surya Kant noticed that the petitioner, an agriculturist-cum- ex-serviceman was running from pillar to post for tube-well connection, but was being harassed by the electricity board. The Judge added that the board misled him into investing huge amounts on an electric motor, bore and room. The executive engineer, called to the court through coercive means, is directed to produce the record, the Judge added

Nabha, August 12
In a gruesome incident, four members of a family were brutally murdered by unidentified assailants in Preet Vihar Colony, here today morning. Though preliminary investigations have indicated that crime was committed to settle some personal rivalry, but senior police officials maintained that they were exploring all angles and efforts are on to nab the accused at the earliest.

As per information, the deceased have been identified as Hameer Singh (75), his son Iqbal Singh (55), Iqbal’s wife Jaswinder Kaur (50) and their daughter Gurjagjeet Kaur (19). The police officials stated that the victim Iqbal was an arhtiya in the local market.

According to the police officials, Iqbal’s younger son Amrit Singh escaped luckily, as he had left the house before the incident. Amrit told the police that he got a phone call about the unfortunate incident when he had reached near Rakhra village. While body of Iqbal and Gurjagjeet were recovered from a room on the ground floor, the bodies of Hameer and Jaswinder were found lying on first floor and kitchen respectively.

SHO of Kotwali police station, Nabha, Harbhajan Singh said prima facie, it appears that more than two persons were behind the brutal murders. He further said all four victims were mercilessly hit with iron rods, following that they died.

The cops have ruled out the robbery theory in wake of the fact that nothing valuable was found missing from the house. Nabha DSP Arshdeep Singh said they suspect that some money dispute with some persons may be the reason behind the murders. He further stated that anything concrete could be said only after detailed investigations into the matter.

While the bodies have been sent for the postmortem examination, the doctors have conducted the X-Rays of the skull of all four victims, which has confirmed the bullet injury in the skull of the three deceased- Hameer, Iqbal and Jaswinder. Meanwhile, the Nabha DSP has rounded up some persons for questioning. 

Jalandhar, August 12
A school boy of Adampur village was allegedly kidnapped for a ransom of Rs 45 lakh last evening. The kidnapper, however, riased the demand of Rs 52 lakh this morning. The kidnapping came to light when Gagandeep Singh made a call to his mother Santosh Kaur, a green card holder NRI, from his mobile phone claiming that he was in the captivity of certain unidentified kidnappers.

According to family members, Gagandeep, a Class X student of SD Public School, Adampur, had left home on his motorcycle to pay the bills of a grocery shop in the market on the Railway road, in the afternoon. A resident of Jawahar Nagar in Adampur, Santosh Kaur in a complaint to the police stated that Gagandeep informed her that he was in Padhiyana village.

The shattered mother approached Pavittar Singh, the municipal councillor of her area, and while she was narrating the episode, the kidnapper made another call and demanded the ransom or threatened that be ready for the consequences.

The boy again made a phone call late in the evening claiming that the kidnappers were torturing him for want of the ransom and he banged the phone. The family also got another call this morning when the kidnapper demanded a Rs 52-lakh ransom, family sources said. They also alleged that the boy was kidnapped by his relatives as his father (Inderjit Singh who died due to a heart attack a couple of months ago) had turned down their request for Rs 50,000 some time ago.

The kidnapper, while demanding ransom from Santosh, had disclosed that her husband had refused to give him Rs 50,000 which forced him to teach the family a lesson, a close relative disclosed. Taking a serious note of the incident, the police has laid a trap and all telephones of the family have been put under surveillance. Cops in plain clothes have been deployed around the house of the victims and the suspected kidnapper.

The Jalandhar (Rural) SSP, Ashish Chaudhary, claimed, “We are trying our best to rescue the boy safely from the clutches of the kidnappers. It will not be wise to comment further at this stage”.