The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Infant’s Death
Hospital staff gets clean chit
Tribune News Service

Kharar, September 24
The staff of Kharar Civil Hospital has been given a clean chit in infant’s death case that happened on September 21.Mohali civil surgeon Dr PK Sridhar said: “During the investigation we didn’t find any kind of dereliction of duty. Though death of the child was deeply mourned, but none of the hospital staff members was responsible for untoward incident.”

He said that the child’s umbilical cord got twisted around his neck, thereby asphyxiating him. “This happens once in 10,000 child births and there is no medical reason. Such condition went undetected even in the ultra sound conducted two days before the child birth,” he said.

Dr Sridhar added that the coil was tightly twisted around the child’s neck and there was not even a finger’s space between neck and the cord.

“The nurse on duty had conducted three deliveries so there is no issue of her being asleep. Moreover, the complainant Subedar Gurcharan Singh never alleged hospital staff of being asleep at the time of delivery, during the course of inquiry,” he said.

He admitted that as per Indian Public Health Standards, there are two doctors less at the hospital. “I have recommended in my report that two more doctors be deployed here to increase the efficiency. I have also recommended that arrangements be made for at least three doctors to stay inside the hospital premises,” he said.

With 150 deliveries and 550 OPD per month, this 50-bed civil hospital caters to more than four accidental cases everyday.

All the specialist doctors are burdened with duties of conducting post-mortems, preparing medico legal reports, conducting rape victims’ check-ups, dealing with court cases and giving emergency duties.

“The workload is far more than anticipated. Some times a doctor ends up working for the whole day and later even gives emergency duty. Many doctors here have OPD that lasts till 4:30 pm. Government should depute at least five more medical officers for conducting the emergency and other duties,” a doctor said. The outgoing SMO Dr Jai Singh had recommended that a trauma centre be set up to deal with accident cases.

Presently, even the in-charge of blood bank doubles up as blood transfusion officer, whereas at Mohali Civil Hospital, two persons conduct the duty. Meanwhile, former MLA Bir Devinder said government should provide adequate facilities at the civil hospital.

House collapses due to rain

Kalka, September 24
Heavy rains that lashed the region from the past three days have claimed a house of the BPL women in Pinjore.

Due to heavy rain, the house of a widow of Dhamsu village of Pinjore collapsed last night.

Manmohan Singh, former sarpanch of the village, the incident occurred during the midnight when Malti, a BPL woman, was sleeping in a room, when the roof of the adjacent room collapsed, which damaged the household belongings.

The woman has urged the local administration to compensate her. — OC

Man gets 2-year RI forseeking dowry
Our Correspondent

Ambala, September 24
Judicial Magistrate Rajnish K Sharma has sentenced two years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000 to Rajinder Pal, a resident of Ambala cantonment, for misbehaving with his wife for not bringing enough dowry.

The court, however, acquitted two of his relatives, who were also booked under Section 498A.

According to the prosecution, the victim had filed a complaint with the Ambala Cantonment police station in April, 1999.

She had alleged in the complaint that her husband Rajender used to beat her up for not bringing enough dowry, as settled at the time of engagement by her parents. On the other hand, the counsel, while refuting the charges, had stated that Rajender was falsely implicated in the case.

The court was of the view that the accused committed offence under Section 498A and held him guilty.

The judge observed: "It has become a tendency on the part of the bride to implicate all the relatives of the bridegroom in the matrimonial offences. It is seen that when there is bickering between husband and wife, wife has always chosen to bring the relatives of the bridegroom in the dock."

He further observed: "No oriental wife much less an Indian wife forsakes the matrimonial home for the sake of fun. It is only upon the creation of unbearable and intolerable circumstances created by her husband, which compel her to leave the matrimonial home. Non-examination of any relative, neighbourer by the prosecution is not fatal to the case of the prosecution."

Vehicle lifters arrested
Our Correspondent

Bassi Pathana,September 24
The police claimed to have arrested two persons, who were involved in the theft of vehicles and recovered motorcycle from them, which they stole from Jarkhelan Mohalla.

According to Rajwant Singh, chowki in charge, the police had erected naka on the Ropar bus stand and during checking the police signaled pillion riders for checking, but they fled.

The police succeeded in nabbing them. Hesaid during investigation they revealed their identity as Gurjeet Singh,resident of BassiPathana, and Chanchal Bhalla, resident of Saheedgarh village.

He said they admitted lifting vehicles. The police has registered a case under Section 379 and 411 of the IPC.

The court remanded them in police custody for one day. Rajwant said during interrogation more revelation is likely to come out.

2 youths hurt in accident
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, September 24
Two motorcycle-borne youths, going from Dappar to Lalru, were injured when a crane hit them near Lalru yesterday.

They were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital at Sector 32 in Chandigarh. They were identified as Rohit Kaushal and Narinder Singh. Residents of the ammunition depot at Dappar, they were studying in Chandigarh.

The police registered a case against the driver of the crane, Janab Mohammad of Garhi Dhanoul in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, under Sections 279, 337 and 427 of the IPC.

COURTS

Josan Case
Next hearing on Sept 29
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 24
Dr Balbir Singh Josan will continue to act as the principal of Sector 10 DAV College till the next date of hearing on September 29.The direction came after detailed hearing in the matter. Taking up his petition, Justice Rajive Bhalla of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had on the previous date of hearing asserted: “Dr Balbir Singh Josan will continue to function as the principal till the next date of hearing, but will not take any policy decision with respect to the functioning of the college.”

Justice Bhalla had also asserted: Dr Balbir Singh Josan states that he shall not undertake any financial transaction on behalf of the college and shall allow the present financial arrangements to continue.”

Before parting with the order, Justice Bhalla asserted: “All parties concerned, including UT administration, shall ensure that the functioning of the college, including the classes, is not disrupted.”

Haryana’s Social Security Scheme
DC to probe fund bungling
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 24
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Panchkula Deputy Commissioner (DC) to probe the alleged bungling in disbursement of money under the Haryana government’s social security scheme in the district and furnish his report by November 1.

Justice Permod Kohli of the Punjab and Haryana High Court passed the orders after hearing a petition by Sumitra Devi of Pinjore and other petitioners. They contended that Haryana was running welfare and social security schemes, including pension for the aged, unemployed youth, visually impaired, widows and the begotten girl child.

Alleging large-scale manipulation, they asserted that huge bungling was going on in the disbursement of money under the schemes. Some persons were withdrawing the money through bogus signatures or it was being handed over to dubious persons.

The petitioners said they were entitled to benefits under such schemes, but their rights were illegally withheld. They sought directions for an independent probe, especially from the CBI, into the bungling of funds.

Handing over the inquiry to the DC today, the high court observed: “It is a very serious matter and before any appropriate directions are issued, it is deemed appropriate that an inquiry is done by some responsible officer.”

Justice Kohli also asked the DC to take the help of the petitioner during the inquiry. The case would come up for further hearing on November 1.

Court revokes dismissal of Haryana corpn staffer
Swati Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 24
Mentioning that the Haryana Financial Corporation has deprived Anil Kumar Lekhi, who was dismissed by the corporation, from “valuable right of hearing”, a local court revoked the order of dismissal.

The court of Civil Judge (Junior Division) Anupamish Modi said the dismissal orders of Anil Kumar Lekhi, who was working as assistant general manager, in the corporation were “invalid”.

He was dismissed from service after 14 charges were levelled against him and an inquiry was marked to look into the matter.

Pronouncing the orders, the court said, “In the case, admittedly the inquiry officer was appointed by the punishing authority and the punishing authority, on receipt of the report of the inquiry officer, sought the reply of the delinquent employee. After perusing the report of the inquiry officer and the reply submitted by the delinquent employee, he passed the order as so purposed in the show-cause notice without caring to give an opportunity of personal hearing to the employee.”

The court held, “In view of the facts and aspects, the impugned order dated July 27, 2000, dismissing the service of the plaintiff, is devoid of natural justice and the appellate order is also not sustainable in the eyes of the law due to lapses on the part of appellate competent authority as this order, too, suffers from flaw, denying natural justice to the plaintiff.”

The plaintiff joined the corporation in 1984 and was promoted to senior manager. He was later promoted to assistant general manager as in charge of a merchant banking division of the corporation.

Lekhi was served a charge sheet by the MD. Furthermore, allegations levelled against Lekhi were approved by the MD and he was acting as per written direction passed to him from time to time from the MD and the Board of Directors.

Of the 14 charges, the inquiry officer gave findings against him on six charges. A show-cause notice was served on him, to which he duly replied. He was served the order of dismissal dated July 27, 2000. He then appealed before the Board of Directors on January 4, 2001. However, the appeal was dismissed on September 24, 2002.

It was conveyed to him that the dismissal of appeal was based on the report of a sub-committee that met on March 7, 2002. The plaintiff objected to it and his request to seek the assistance of an advocate was declined. The Board of Directors did not give him personal hearing and the order was passed on the recommendation of the sub-committee.

CRIME

Vegetable vendor robbed of Rs 9,000
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, September 24
A vegetable vendor of Sector 20 lodged a complaint with the police here today that two motorcycle-borne youths took away Rs 9,000 after injuring him with bricks near one of the group housing societies here today.

The police, while terming it as a family dispute, said a case had been registered on the complaint of Hote Lal, a resident of Peer Muchchalla area of Zirakpur.

Investigations in the case were on.

Hote Lal, in his complaint, alleged that his wife was suspected to be involved in the incident, as he was going to visit his native village and had sold his vegetable cart for Rs 9,000.

He had purchased a bag from Mani Majra and while returning to Sector 20, near a housing board society two bikers attacked him. They looted his cash and beat him up with bricks.

The victim, however, alleged that he had a tiff with his wife for the past few days as he wanted to return to his native village.

He said one of his children was present on the spot when the incident occurred.

Transporter assaulted, hospitalised
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 24
A group of unidentified persons armed with sharp-edged weapons allegedly assaulted a 23-year-old Mohali-based transporter in Sector 45 late last night.The victim was admitted to the PGI where his condition is stated to be stable. The police said the victim had been identified as Rajesh Chauhan, who was on his way to Mohali in his Bolero jeep with his driver Pardeep Singh when he was assaulted. Pardeep sped away from the spot when the assailants attacked his boss. The incident occurred at around 10.30 pm.

Passers-by found Chauhan in a pool of blood on the road and informed the police that a jeep sped away after hitting a pedestrian. The police rushed the victim to the PGI and started looking for the vehicle.

Shocked at the incident, Pardeep returned to the spot and learnt that Chauhan had been shifted to the PGI. He to the PGI but hid himself in the parking lot before coming to the police.

Pardeep told the police that they were going to Mohali when Chauhan got a phone call and had heated exchange of words with the caller. Chauhan told the caller to wait for him. Chauhan told the driver to turn the jeep towards Sector 45 and asked him to stop outside a house.

They switched off the lights and in no time, a group of persons assaulted him, said Pardeep. Since it was dark, the assailants did not realise that the driver was sitting in the jeep. He drove the vehicle to escape and the assailants hit the windscreen with a rod.

The police said that after getting all the facts in place, a case of rioting and causing voluntary injuries had been registered against unidentified assailants on Pardeep’s complaint. Further action would be taken after recording Chauhan’s statement in this regard, the police said.

DAV-15 student beaten up
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 24
In yet another incident of student rivalry taking a violent turn, Balwant Singh, a student of DAV-15, was thrashed by nine boys at the Leisure Valley, Sector 10, here this evening. The boy left home for the market, but was rounded up by the boys in two cars near the Leisure Valley and beaten up with batons. Though they managed to escape, the police was on the lookout for them.

“The boys who beat Balwant up were holding a grudge against his elder brother. They mistook him for his brother and rounded him up. They smashed his car before beating him up,” said a police official.

7 women held on loitering charge
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 24
The police today arrested seven women from two different places in Burail village in the charges of roaming aimlessly in the area.The police got information that the two groups of women were roaming in the area under suspicious circumstances.

A police team apprehended four women from near the kerosene station in Sector 45 while three women were arrested from near DAV College in the same sector. The women, hailing from Uttar Pardesh and Bihar, could not reveal their purpose of heir presence in the area. The police suspected that they were indulging in unlawful activities.

Man held with stolen motorbike

Chandigarh, September 24
The police today arrested an Uttar Pradesh resident with a stolen motorcycle from Sector 45. The police said that Azim, a resident of Rampur, was arrested following a tip-off. During preliminary interrogation, Azim named his accomplice Asiq and said he had four stolen motorcycles with him. Azim was produced before a local court today which remanded him in police custody till September 27. He would be taken to Uttar Pradesh to recover the stolen motorcycles and to trace his accomplice.

Vehicles stolen

Narinder Singh, a resident of Sector 30-B, reported to the police alleging that someone had stolen his Maruti car (CH-01-H-7880) from in front of his house on September 23. In another incident, Hardev Singh, a resident of Sector 46, lodged a complaint with the police alleging that someone had stolen his Kinetic Honda scooter (CHP 3334) from a parking lot of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 23. — TNS

SPORTS

City's Saaniya triumphs
Pips Sharmila by 2 strokes in women's golf
Donald Banerjee

Chandigarh, September 24
Saaniya Sharma piped Bangalore's hot favourite Sharmila Nicollet by two strokes to clinch the Hero Honda Women's Professional Golf Tour title on the par-72 greens of the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon here today.

Saaniya finished with a three-day tally of 221 to defeat Sharmila (223) by two strokes with both girls firing identical three over 75 cards on the final day.

Nalini Singh Siwach finished a distant third at 232 with Chandigarh's Preetinder Kaur occupying the fourth slot at 239.

This was Saaniya's first major title this season. She pocketed the prize money of Rs 64,000 and seems all set to make it big in the tournaments ahead, including two to be played in Chandigarh and Panchkula.

Final scores:

221 Saaniya Sharma (70-76-75); 223 Sharmila Nicollet (77-71-75); 232 Nalini Siwach (79-76-77); 239 Preetinder Kaur (83-77-79); 240 Neha Tripathi (82-84-74); 246 Pallavi Jain (81-83-82) and Rani Sonti (84-81-81); 250 Pritha Goswami amateur (83-87-80) and 254 Nalini Singh (86-83-85).