Chandigarh, November 4
After farmers, it is now the Punjab Government’s turn to please the urban vote bank. In the intra-alliance competitive politics the government’s largesse after the rural voters is now for urban leaders---mayors and chairpersons of improvement trusts.The government today announced enhanced benefits for them, and more financial benefits for the urban vote bank are in the offing.

Over the next few days substantial grants for infrastructure development in urban areas are also to be announced. A blueprint for this is ready. Punjab’s Local Government and Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia said, “The government today took a decision to increase the honorarium awarded to mayors, senior deputy mayors, deputy mayors, chairman of improvement trusts and presidents of councils and nagar panchayats”.

There is a 50 per cent increase in honorarium for most people. These beneficiaries,including councillors, who are elected, had been demanding a hike in the honorarium and allowances ever since the salaries of MLAs were raised in the last Assembly session. Employees of the government, too, have got a raise after the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission report.

Kalia discussed the issue at the Cabinet meeting yesterday and sought the Chief Minister’s approval on the matter before making this announcement today. Kalia said, “The last hike took place in 2003. This decision was much awaited; so it was decided to announce this on the eve of Divali.”

This decision of the government will benefit over 2,000 persons. Punjab has municipal corporations in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala and Bathinda and 28 improvement trusts besides 136 municipal committees. In all, there are over 2,000 municipal councillors alone and each will benefit anywhere between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 taking the government monthly liability to around Rs 50 lakh.

“Even though on its own it may appear a huge amount, considering the fact that the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has an annual budget of Rs 450 core, this amount is negligible”, a senior official in the government said. The five municipal corporations in Punjab have an annual budget of around Rs 1,000 crore, while the total budget of all bodies, including the committees, is over Rs 1,700 crore.

Kalia said the honorarium has been revised from November 1, 2010, onwards. All categories will receive a 50 per cent increase. For example, the mayors’ monthly honorarium has been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. Senior deputy mayors get a raise from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 with an additional raise of perks of telephone, meeting and constituency allowances. Similarly, the deputy mayors get an increase from Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 along with a raise in different allowances.

Similarly, the honorarium for the presidents of Class I municipal councils will be Rs 7,500, Rs 6,000 for Class II and Rs 4,500 for Class III. The daily allowance for councillors will now be Rs 300.

Constituency allowances for councillors of Classes I, II and III will now be Rs 4,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000. A sum of Rs 500 as telephone allowance will now also be paid. The honorarium of Class I improvement trust chairmen will be Rs 10,000, Rs 7,500 for Class II and Rs 5,000 for Class III.

Jalandhar, November 4
The Punjab Government has increased prize money for medal winners in the international sports competitions.

Following an approval of the Cabinet, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has announced to increase the prize money to Rs 16 lakh for gold medal winners at the Asian and Commonwealth Games etc.

Earlier, this amount was Rs 7 lakh, even less than half of the money given by the Haryana Government to its gold medal winners at the Commonwealth Games.

For silver and bronze medals winners, the government has increased the prize money to Rs 11 lakh and Rs 6 lakh from Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively. In fact, the Punjab Government will give Rs 1 lakh more than the Haryana Government for gold, silver and bronze medal winners at the Asian and Commonwealth Games. However, Haryana has already given the prize money, whereas Punjab Government has promised to give it in December.

On November 3, The Tribune had highlighted the issue with regard to meager prize money given by the state government to medal winners. The same day, the government increased the prize money after the Cabinet’s approval.

“I am very happy at the decision. It will boost our morale and motivate us to work harder,” said Manjit Kaur, a gold medal winner at the Delhi Commonwealth Games. Her family has modest means of income. But her parents spared no effort to reach her to the international level.

Equally overjoyed was Mandeep Kaur, another gold medal winner at the Commonwealth Games. “The Olympic Games will be held in London in 2012. I will utilise the money to train myself in London before the Games,” she said, adding that the money would also help her to fulfill the other needs.

“We both are thankful to the Chief Minister for taking personal interest in enhancing the prize money and also of The Tribune that it highlighted the cause of sportspersons,” said Manjit and Mandeep.

The Indian team will leave to take part in the Asian Games in the second week of November. “Our boys and girls will give their best at the Games to bring glory to the country as well as to Punjab”, said a coach, who is training sportspersons at Patiala. The increase in the prize money had delighted the boys and girls, the coach said, adding that the government should also give a due recognition to coaches.

Chandigarh, November 4
The Sharjah Appeal Court today directed the police to hand over both compact discs (CDs) on which it had recorded the entire evidence against 17 Indian boys facing the death sentence in the Mishri Khan murder case.

The Indian boys were convicted in a bootlegging and murder case following a clash between two groups in Sharjah.

Convicted and sentenced to death, these 17 boys --- 16 from Punjab and one from Haryana ---- have challenged their conviction in the Sharjah Appeal Court after the Indian Consulate in Dubai hired a battery of lawyers to defend them.

The court had at its previous hearing directed the investigating officer, Major Abdul Razzaq, to produce the CDs in the court today. Since the Investigating Officer could not appear in the court even after it reassembled after an hour’s recess, the police was directed to hand over the CDs to the defence team.

A Dubai-based businessman, SP Singh Oberoi, who has been following the case, told The Tribune on the telephone that the defence team also wanted all three policemen who handled the investigations in the case to be present in the court for cross-examination.

The defence lawyers also wanted that all evidence that the police used to prosecute the Indian boys be also produced in the court. They wanted that nail-fitted wooden clubs, sword, steel rods and blood-stained clothes that the investigation team claimed to have taken into possession from the crime spot should also be produced in the court for examination.

The court conceded the demand of the defence team that all three policemen who assisted Major Abdul Razzaq in the investigations be asked to appear in the court at the next hearing that has been fixed for December 16.

The court, however, kept pending its decision on the other request of the defence lawyers for producing the evidence material recovered from the spot as well as from the Indian boys convicted on the charges of bootlegging and murder.

The court observed that the defence team should examine the policemen first before a decision to produce other prosecution material for examination in the court was allowed.

Chandigarh, November 4
State Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today congratulated Nikki Randhawa for winning the Governor’s race in South Carolina.

Badal, in his congratulatory message complimented Nikki who has her origins in Punjab for achieving this “rare feat and bringing laurels to the Punjabi community across the globe”.

He said the huge margin by which Nikki had won the Governor's election clearly shows the acceptability of Punjabis all over the world.

Badal said that it was an established fact that Punjabis were progressive and enterprising by nature in every sphere, who always contributed immensely for the development of any country where they settled. — PTI

Amritsar, November 4
Tomorrow when thousands of devotees will throng the Golden Temple to celebrate Divali and Bandi Chhor Divas, a hidden eye will be keeping a close watch on the event. CCTV cameras, numbering 85, installed recently by the SGPC at a cost of Rs 2 crore will undergo their first acid test tomorrow, as the entire Golden Temple complex will be jam-packed with devotees celebrating Divali.

SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh said a control room had been set up near Akal Takht to monitor activities at the complex. According to him, CCTV cameras had been installed across the ‘parikarma, ‘jora ghars’ (shoe-deposit centres), inns, community kitchen, SGPC office, and the entrance.

The cameras can capture colour images even at night and come with tilt-zoom and range-adjustment features. He said if need be the number of cameras might be increased up to 100.

SGPC President Avtar Singh said CCTV cameras would provide foolproof security to lakhs of devotees visiting the Golden Temple adding that the facility would be formally inaugurated soon.

He said they would also be recruiting 10 trained personnel at the control room besides facilitating the required training to the SGPC staff.

He said the SGPC staff, if need be, would also be equipped with security instrument like walkie-talkie.

The SGPC since long was contemplating the installation of CCTV cameras for more security at the Golden Temple and Akal Takht complex. The proposal was first mooted when Bibi Jagir Kaur was heading the SGPC.

The decision to put up CCTV cameras was apparently taken following attacks on religious places in South Asia.

Cases of picking of pockets, garment thefts at the complexes and reports of children missing also prompted the SGPC to act on the proposal.

Meanwhile, the stage is all set for Bandi Chhor Divas and Divali celebrations at the Golden Temple. SGPC President Avtar Singh and Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh will address the community from the Darshani Deodhi at 5 pm tomorrow.

Thousands of devotees have already converged in the holy city. The entire complex has been illuminated with lights.

Noted ‘raagi jathas’ will perform ‘shabad kirtan’ at Gurdwara Manji Sahib, which will be followed by a ‘dhadi darbar’ at 8 pm.

The evening will also witness a spectacular display of fireworks.

Chandigarh, November 4
While farmers in Punjab are in a do-or-die situation over the tardy procurement of their farm produce in general and paddy in particular, the two major political parties - the Congress and the SAD - appear to be caught up in trivialities rather than working for solutions to the major problems facing the state, says senior Communist leader Joginder Dyal.

“Punjab has been at the crossroads as agriculture, the mainstay of its economy, is dwindling after reaching a saturation point. While the per capita debt is rising rapidly, the per capita income is coming down. “What could be more unfortunate than the Chief Minister’s own area turning into a deadly cancer belt?” says Dyal, questioning at the same time the celebrations in Delhi by senior Congress leaders over recent appointments within the party.

“Akalis, too, have their own problems. No one appears to be serious about the problems of the common man, the aam aadmi,” complains Dyal.

Blaming both the Congress and Akalis for the poor fiscal health of the state, Dyal says that neither of the major political parties has been able to control prices, check pollution and provide basic amenities to the people of the state.

The Congress government, during its previous term, had taken the total debt from Rs 32,496 in 2001-2002 to Rs 53,391 crore in 2006-07. And now the Akalis and the BJP government has taken the debt to Rs 65,000 crore.

He said that neither the Akalis nor the Congress had been able to cut down the wasteful expenditure.

Supporting his argument, he quoted the 1998 report of a Committee of Officers headed by the then Finance Secretary, Rajan Kashyap, that talked about the growth of bureaucracy, saying that while in 1984 there were 165 IAS officers, the number increased to 206 in 1998. Similarly, the number of officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police and above increased from 112 in 1984 to 258 in 1998.

Dera Bassi, November 4
Tamilnadu Governor Surjeet singh Barnala stated that he might join active politics according to the need of time. Addressing to media yesterday at the farmhouse of his son Jasjit Singh near Lalru, he avoided any political comments.

Replying to a question regarding the letter of Daljit Singh Cheema, the political secretary of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal written to President of India for the removal of Barnala from the post of Governor, he said cheema did not know anything about Constitutional matters.

Surjeet Kaur Barnala, wife of Barnala, and president of SAD( Longowal), who was also present, severely criticised the anti-people policies of SAD-BJP Government. She hinted that anti-Badal Akali factions were trying to assemble on one platform to fight the policies of Badal government. SAD( Badal) and Shiromani Gurudawara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) were going against their respective principles and working for the interests of Badal family, she asserted.

SGPC was going against the real religious purposes and funding the Akali Dal Badal and Nanhi chaan campaign of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, she blamed. She further informed SAD( Longowal) would actively participate in SGPC elections with the support of like-minded groups.

Jalandhar, November 4
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invited the Bharti Kisan Union(Rajewal) to discuss issues related to the agrarian crisis in Punjab.

BKU president Balbir Singh Rajewal today said he had got a phone call from the Prime Minister’s Office( PMO) for discussing issues related to the crisis. The PM had deputed Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chauhan to discuss the issues with the BKU and submit a report to him, said Rajewal.

“We have told the PMO that a five-member delegation of the BKU will

visit Delhi after Divali,” said Rajewal.” The PMO has told us that immediately after Divali, the date and time for holding the discussions will be communicated to the BKU”, said Rajewal. The discussions would revolve around a memorandum which the BKU( Rajewal) had submitted to the Prime Minister last week. “As the PM was away, the memorandum was received by a senior official of the PMO”, said Rajewal.

There are various issues which would be discussed with Chauhan.The first is the bonus on paddy. The Union Government did not revise the MSP of paddy for the current season. “We will press the Centre to announce a handsome bonus on paddy,” said Rajewal, adding he was hopeful that this demand would be accepted. “Last week, we had discussed the bonus issue with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. He had told us that this issue would be discussed with the PM after his visit to Japan and other countries. Since the PM is back in Delhi, we are sure that this issue will be clinched”, said Rajewal.

The Centre had increased the MSP of wheat by Rs 20 per quintal. “It was like playing a joke on farmers.We will press the Centre for an adequate increase in the wheat MSP”, he said, adding the data with regard to the input cost to produce 1 quintal of wheat had already been supplied to the Central Government.

However, the most important issue was restoring the health of the soil in Punjab. “We will urge the Centre to announce a package to improve the health of the soil. High nutritional doses are required to restore its health”, said Rajewal. It would not be possible without a package from the Centre in this regard.

There are also issues with regard to the freeing of farmers from the debt burden and identification and shifting of the surplus population from the farm sector to the industrial sector, the knowledge industry and services sector.

Ludhiana, November 4
The Centre may have announced relaxation of the percentage of damaged,discoloured and sprouted grain in the case of paddy to 10 per cent from 4 per cent but it will not make much difference to farmers in the state as about 1 lakh tonnes of paddy has already been lifted at 4 per cent.

Criticising the Central Government for “fooling farmers” in the state, the Bharti Kisan Union said despite contributing a major share in the nation's food kitty, Punjab's farmers remained the worst sufferers.

Reacting to the latest instructions issued on relaxed paddy specifications, Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, president, BKU, told The Tribune that by this time, much of the paddy had been lifted and 30-35 lakh tonnes was lying in mandis. " The Union Government always acts smart. It lays down such specifications about which the state government cannot do anything. The illiterate farmer holds the state government responsible for his plight", rued Lakhowal.

He added that every year, farmers in Punjab suffered as there was no lifting of previous stocks from godowns. From states like Bihar and Haryana, the stocks were lifted hurriedly by the Union Government. In Punjab, the Central Government feels secured stocking the produce in godowns. In such circumstances, the farmer again becomes the sufferer", complained Lakhowal. Avtar Singh Mehlon, district president, BKU, said farmers in Punjab had to protest against the "anti-farmer" policies of the Centre every year.

Amritsar, November 4
Even after the Centre declared the historic summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh a protected monument six years back, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is still awaiting its handover for its preservation and maintenance.

At present, the ASI has two structures, including “machhi ghar” (once the munshi khana), “shahi hamam” (royal bath), besides four watchtowers and a “deori” under its control. The remaining structures are being conserved by the Department of Tourism, Government of Punjab.

Ironically, the preservation work on parts of the monument, started about three years back by the Tourism Department, has been going on at a tardy pace. Expressing concern over the sorry state of affairs, the ASI authorities have written to the district administration a number of times for handing it over to them as the department (ASI) was facing difficulties in maintaining and preserving the monument spread over 678.18 kanals.

Local tourism officer Balraj Singh said the conservation work was delayed due to shortage of expert hands that was brought from other parts of the country. Director of the Department of Tourism Husn Lal, however, said the preservation was being done in phases with its first phase being near completion.

“The proposal for the second phase of the project has been sent to the government. It will be handed over to the ASI after completion of the first phase. Though management of summer palace will remain with the Tourism Department, as it will be converted into a museum,” he said.

Superintendent Archaeologist, Chandigarh Division, ASI, BC Sharma said whatever conservation was being carried out by the Tourism Department was very slow.

It is pertinent to mention here that the state government, which has also notified the area as protected structure, designated the Department of Tourism for preservation of a few structures of the historic building and allotted Rs 2.25 crore for the same.

The conservation architects during the preservation had found original layers of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s time at the historic garden. During the digging operation, they found an earthen sanitation system that was prevalent in those days. The heritage building suffered untold damage during the British rule due to unscientific alterations.

Gidderbaha, November 4
Amid the raising of anti-police and anti-Manpreet slogans, hundreds of Congress workers of the Gidderbaha Assembly constituency today attended the cremation of Gautam Kanwar, a leader of the OBC wing of the party who had allegedly committed suicide yesterday.

The body was taken to the cremation ground in a huge procession. Moving through city markets, members of the party kept on accusing former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and his brother-in-law Jaijeet Singh Johal, alias Jojo, of patronising goons and using the police as a tool to take on their political rivals till he was a part of the ruling SAD.

They demanded the arrest of five close aides of Manpreet-his former OSD --- now secretary Charanjit Singh Fakkarsar, DSP Jagjit Singh Bhagtana, SHO Devinder Singh, municipal councillor Rajesh Gandhi, alias Bittu, and a journalist of a local daily, who were booked yesterday on the charge of abetting Gautam to commit suicide.

However, assembling at the deceased’s house, party leaders started accusing the police of taking no steps to arrest any of the accused stating that Fakkarsar was freely attending political meetings of Manpreet in the Patiala region on Wednesday even after being booked in the criminal case. They also accused the police of shielding the other accused.

It may be mentioned that DSP Jagjit Singh Bhagtana, who used to take pride in being addressed as a close confidant of Manpreet, was transferred from Gidderbaha immediately after Manpreet went hammer and tongs against SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. He had been sent to the state police headquarters and was awaiting orders for fresh posting.

Speaking over the phone, Muktsar SSP Inder Mohan Singh refuted the allegation of shielding the accused and said: “The case was lodged on the basis of mere allegations. The accused will be arrested after verification.”

On the other hand, Fakkarsar said: “It is a fabricated case in which leaders of the Congress and the ruling SAD have joined hands to take on Manpreet and his supporters.”

Kurali, November 4
Retailers selling crackers at Kurali are having a field day. Stocking fireworks without any permission, these sellers are not only endangering their own lives, but also that of people residing in the vicinity.

More than 200 retailers have cropped up in the city over the past week. Even sweet sellers and grocers have put up temporary stalls outside their shops to sell crackers in one of the busiest fireworks market of Punjab.

Besides catering to local residents, these wholesalers also attract buyers from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Ropar, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib and other areas.

“It is very difficult to procure licence and permission for storing firecrackers. The wholesalers at Kurali are those who have been into the same business for the past two generations. Since many people here have wholesale licences, the area has emerged as a major market for sale of firecrackers,” pointed out old-timer Tarsem Singh.

Taking advantage of the abundance, the retailers have also stocked up crackers, albeit without any permission. During the festive season, a large number of shopkeepers apply for temporary licences, while others work without any permission.

The district administration has designated open spaces for the sale of crackers, but nothing is being done to keep a check on violators.

SDM, Kharar, RK Gupta said the Deputy Commissioner had designated areas for sale of crackers under Section 144 of the CrPC. “As per rules, the police should book cases under Section 188 of the CrPC against those selling crackers at undesignated places. We have already identified these places and intimated the police about it,” he said.

Patiala, November 4
Notwithstanding the directions of the district administration, sale of crackers is going on in residential areas and in congested markets of Patiala. The casual approach of the administration towards the matter could well be gauged from the fact that this is happening in the presence of the cops.

Notably, in order to ensure that there no untoward incident occurs because of sale of crackers in congested and residential areas, Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dipinder Singh had issued a list of the areas, which were authorised by the district administration for sale of crackers. The sites authorised for sale of crackers in Patiala city, included Bhupindra Road, alongside boundary wall of Lower Mall adjoining Polo Ground, Tripuri Water Tank area, Veer Haqikat Rai Ground near Bus Stand, vacant ground on Badungar Road, SST Nagar and Urban Estate.

But contrary to this, crackers are being sold in almost all the residential areas and commercial streets in Patiala. Interestingly, speaking to The Tribune, most of the shopkeepers and vendors admitted that nobody from the administration prevented them from setting up cracker stalls.

Meanwhile, senior functionaries of Fire Wing of Patiala Municipal Corporation have said the Corporation’s Fire Brigade Department is all prepared to meet exigency, if any, on Divali day. Though, civic functionaries had already passed on directions to the fire-staff to remain extra vigilant during the festive season, but considering the fact that majority of fire incidents are reported on Divali night, special preparations have been made. Fire officials further disclosed that they had already checked all the filling points (tubewells) in the city and those having any sort of default had been repaired.

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 4
Large-scale thefts in private and government fish ponds have led to drastic fall in number of farmers opting for pisciculture in Fatehgarh Sahib and adjoining areas.

Farmers accuse the police and the politicians of shielding the thieves involved in stealing quintals of fish every day. “Despite the deployment of security guards, putting up barbed wires and taking all other precautions there is no decrease in incidents of theft ”, said Beerinder Singh, a leading fish farmer.

Beerinder’s pond is spread into 20 acres. He had recently hired a private guard from a Chandigarh-based security agency and also installed floodlights to keep thieves at bay.

Patiala-based fish farmer Ravinder Singh Grewal having 13 acres of fishpond in village Chourwala in Fatehgarh Sahib said he had started his fish farm in 1997 and only this year he had come to know about theft incidents in his pond. “Since all the fish ponds remain open during night hours these are vulnerable to thefts. We have now we realised the reasons behind low fish production. As soon as we deployed men to keep a check on theft during night the production has increased to some extent” he said.

Still the thieves manage to strike at least once in a week and manage to take away two to four quintals fish, worth Rs 13,000 to Rs 23,000 in one go. “We did catch thieves in the past, but all of them were released by court after awarding them Rs 200 fine and a few days of confinement”, said Parminder Singh, who had been into fish farming but left it recently. “I quit fish farming as I failed to afford round the clock armed security men. ,” Parminder said.

Despite eight-fold increase in cost of fish food and only 2.5 times increase in profits since 1997, fishery is still a better option but the thieves have now spoiled the business.

Admitting the problem the officials of the Fisheries Department rued that thieves had been stealing fish from government ponds as well.“We have lodged FIRs in Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib police stations but there seems to be no end in incidents of theft ”, said Baldev Singh Randhawa, Chief Executive Officer (Fisheries Department, Punjab).

Mohali, November 4
The Punjab Forest Department has suspended three officials - Balwinder, a guard, Sukhwinder, the forester and RS Chakkal, the Range Officer - who were deputed in the Siswan range for being directly responsible for the illicit felling of of trees in the Bardar forest range.

Apart from suspending the three officials, the Divisional Forest Officer , Ropar Vishal Chauhan, has got a case of violation of the Indian Forest Act and the theft of 417 trees, registered at Ropar against the contractors and landowners - Manjit Singh, Charandass, Manpreet , Dildar and Avtar.

The contractors had ended up felling 40 per cent more than the sanctioned 12,000 trees in Bardar forest located in Siswan range near the Chandigarh-Ropar road.

The officials have been suspended on the basis of findings of an inquiry conducted by the Conservator, Soil Conservation, RK Mishra.

The department, however, claims that the actual illict felling was much less.

The department has so far conducted three inquiries into the illicit felling case. Two previous inquiries did not yield anything as the Bardar village residents, who had initially highlighted the felling in April, had alleged being targeted by the contractor’s men in connivance with forest officials. Even undersized trees were not spared the felling of which are strictly prohibited by law.

Ferozepur, November 4
The Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services), Ferozepur, has directed the state government to issue instructions to all Civil Surgeon that no laboratory or diagnostic centre is allowed to conduct any test except on the reference of a registered or qualified medical practitioner.

Permanent Lok Adalat chairman Amarjit Singh Katari and SK Gupta and RL Taneja (both members) issued these directions while disposing of an application by Balkar Singh against RK Sinha, a quack, for seeking compensation by alleging that his wife was operated upon by Sinha without any medical necessity.

Apart from awarding compensation to Balkar Singh, the lok adalat has also asked the government to ensure that all Civil Surgeons must be asked to send monthly reports regarding action taken by them against quacks in their respective areas.

As per the copy of the judgment, Balkar Singh suffered huge monetary losses as Sinha, a quack, operated upon his wife without medical necessity and hence caused him mental as well as physical tension.

From various sources, it was found that Sinha was a quack and was doing medical practice in Mandi Ladhu Ke of this town. When the complaint was moved against him and he was asked to appear before the lok adalat by adopting legal process, he shifted from this place to another place in Tarn Taran.

After evaluating all evidence put before the lok adalat, it held that Balkar Singh was entitled to recover Rs 1, 62, 240, which he had spent on the treatment of his wife and Rs 1 lakh as a compensation for harassment.

Harwinder Kaur Sinha, wife of the quack, and Kewal Kumar, Harwinder’s associate in the court proceedings, have also been told to contribute Rs 10,000 each as they failed to bring RK Sinha before the lok adalat.

Chandigarh, November 4
Left with meagre means to sustain themselves after dismissal from service of their constable father just before his death, two minor girls were struggling hard to make both ends meet. Alone and destitute with not even a mother to take care of, they moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for support. And much to their relief, the high court has decreased the distance between both ends by paving the way for them to get the benefits.

Virpal Kaur and her sister - both minor daughters of Ranjit Singh - had moved the high court for quashing orders dated December 10, 2003, vide which their constable father was dismissed from service “while taking into account his absence”, and order dated November 25, 2008, vide which the appeal was turned down.

Taking up the plea, Justice Ajai Lamba asserted: “It transpires that even before the appeal could be filed, Ranjit Singh had died. Statutory appeal was filed through Narinder Pal Kaur, widow of Ranjit Singh. Even Narinder Pal Kaur died and therefore, minor daughters have approached this court as they are rendered destitute and without any means of support”.

Justice Lamba added: “It transpires that Ranjit Singh had served the respondents, the state of Punjab and others, for about 13 years. This court, vide order dated January 28 had directed the respondents to re-consider the order of dismissal of Ranjit Singh, in view of the facts and circumstances of the case.”

“Reply on behalf of the respondents has been filed in the court now, which is taken on record. The state DGP vide order dated August 19-20, in view of the circumstances being faced by the petitioners, who are minor daughters of Ranjit Singh, has set aside the order of dismissal and treated the absence of Ranjit Singh as leave of kind due”.

Apparently satisfied with the handling of the situation, Justice Lamba added: “The petition has been rendered infructuous and is disposed of as such. The respondents are directed to sanction and release the pensionary benefits accruing, in lieu of service of Ranjit Singh, within a period of four months of receipt of a certified copy of this order.”

“It is made clear that the order passed by the state DGP shall not be treated as a precedent, as it is only in view of extreme harsh circumstances being faced by the minor daughters of Ranjit Singh, who have lost their father and mother, that order has been passed, Justice Lamba maintained.