Panchkula, November 20
Senior citizens continue to receive jitters due to the flurry of incidents involving fraudulent cash withdrawals from ATMs through cloned cards.

A senior retired official of the PSEB has lost ` 2.54 lakh since November 14 through cloned cards.

SK Mehta, a resident of Sector 20 and retired Executive Engineer from the Punjab State Electricity Board, told The Tribune here today that he had been visiting his bank’s ATM branch during the past three days, but was unable to withdraw the money as his card had developed some technical snag. He said he again visited the bank today and was shocked to see ` 69 as balance amount as someone had withdrawn ` 2.54 lakh from his pension savings account of SBP Sector 7, Chandigarh, during the past seven days.

Chandigarh, November 20
In order to curb growing violence at Panjab University, the authorities have issued a circular to all departments announcing a fine of Rs 2 lakh in case any student is found possessing any lethal weapon on the campus.

In case of recovery of any other weapon, Rs 1 lakh penalty would be imposed. The circular further states that students who are involved in violence would be required to fill an indemnity bond worth Rs 2 lakh before exams.

Only after the submission of the bond, would the students be allowed to appear for exams in November.

The university authorities had suspended four students in a recent case of violence at Student Centre. These students subsequently appealed to the PU Vice-Chancellor that they should be allowed to appear in the examination.

Ahead of the semester exam, the PU authorities have devised this way to tighten the noose on students indulging in violence on the campus.

Following a meeting with a retried judge, who has been conducting an inquiry into the violence case, along with these suspended students, it was resolved to impose penalty on violators in future and get an indemnity bond signed from them.

“We had appealed to the university authorities to let us appear for exams.

We signed a bond worth Rs 2 lakh, stating that in future we wouldn’t be involved in any kind of violence,” said Arshbir Johal, member of Panjab University Students Union.

Implementation of this circular would be done soon, said the university sources today.

Evan as department chairpersons confirmed having received the circular, university Vice-Chancellor and Dean Student Welfare (DSW) could not be contacted. 

Chandigarh, November 20
Displaying exemplary courage, a 24-year-old woman apprehended a motorcyclist, who tried to snatch her purse and handed him over to the police after he was given a sound beating by a mob in Sector 33 here last evening.

The incident occurred when the victim, Mona Sharma, an employee with a private company in Sector 34, was returning home in Sector 46.

The miscreant, identified as Parminder Singh, a resident of Kharar, tried to snatch Mona’s purse. She, however, caught hold of her purse tightly even as he kept riding his motorcycle while holding a string of the purse in his one hand. In the process, Mona was dragged to a distance. However, the motorcyclist soon lost control over his vehicle and fell.

Mona raised an alarm and people gathered on the spot and gave him a sound beating before calling the police.

The police registered a case against the accused and produced him before a local court, which remanded him to one-day of police custody.

Chandigarh, November 20
High drama was witnessed at Colony no. 4 when area residents alleged that they were administered expired swine flu vaccine.

A woman shows the expired vaccine. Tribune photo: Pravesh Chauhan

A few of them complained of headache since they were vaccinated on Thursday. Protesting against the “callous” attitude of the authorities, area residents led by local political leaders reached the government dispensary in the locality and raised slogans against the administration. They also staged a dharna following which the vaccination was stopped.

Shashi Shankar Tiwari, a local Congress leader, said after the vaccination was started, a few residents had been complaining of headache. This was because the vaccine had expired, he alleged.

On the other hand, the nodal officer for swine flu, Abha Rana, denied allegations and said the vaccine was valid for use. More than 3,000 vials meant for protection against swine flu were lying unused with the UT health department. These were due to expire in November. It was brought to the notice of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare who instructed to start immunisation programme in the slum, she said.

The slum area was chosen for the immunisation due to their low economic conditions as the cost of vaccine is very high and poor cannot afford it, she said. One vial of the vaccine costs around Rs 1,000, she said, adding that the vaccinated persons will have immunity against swine flu for one year.

Chandigarh, November 20
The case of land grab by high-ups in Chandigarh’s periphery will soon have a new inquiry officer.

With the Punjab Director-General of Police-cum-inquiry officer, Chander Shekhar, retiring on November 30, the Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday asked the state to ensure the appointment of another officer of the additional DGP rank for carrying out the probe by that date.

The High Court Division Bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Nirmaljit Kaur refused to give Punjab six months time for completing the probe, while adding that the state was not cooperating positively. Instead, the state was allowed another four months for the purpose, the Bench said.

As the case came up for hearing, state counsel NK Sanghi said a panel of officials could be forwarded. Or the Chief Secretary could be asked to carry out the appointment process.

He added the status report filed by Chander Shekhar could be forwarded to the Chief Secretary and he might be directed to appoint the inquiry officer of additional DGP rank.

Accepting the prayer, the Bench directed the status report be forwarded and the new inquiry officer be asked to complete the probe within in four months.

The Bench asserted the action taken on the status report may be compiled and submitted to the court by April 15 next; and the matter may be placed before the Bench taking up the petitions filed in public interest.

The case saw Chander Shekhar claiming professional victimisation for carrying out a probe into assets acquired by the top cops and others in the periphery.

The inquiry officer earlier told the court his career had been jeopardised because of the probe and it was becoming a hurdle in the way of his promotion. "It would be worthwhile to bring to the notice of the court that the service career of the undersigned has been adversely affected due to the reports submitted to the court during the inquiry pertaining to the high ups."

Elaborating, the then ADGP asserted, "In spite of the recommendations of the departmental promotion committee to promote the undersigned on available vacancy of the DGP, the promotion of the undersigned as the DGP has been withheld, although vacancy is available..."

Mohali, November 20
Several weeks after insiders in the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) allegedly sold exhaustive details of the successful applicants in the Aerocity at a price to property dealers, the authority has now uploaded the detailed information about the allottees on its website.

Not only the details of the successful applicants, the authority had also uploaded the list of the unsuccessful applicants under the self-finance category.

Sources in the authority revealed that within days of the draw of lots, some well-connected real estate agents had managed to secure exhaustive details of the successful applicants. The information was compressed in compact discs (CDs) and sold for a price to selected persons.

The information was confirmed by some of the successful applicants, who got calls within few days of the draw of lots being held. Feeling irritated over being repeatedly approached by the outstation realtors and local real estate agents, many successful applicants found themselves perplexed.

Chandigarh, November 20
Terming the Armed Forces Tribunal as virtually toothless in the absence of provisions for execution of its orders, its Chairperson Justice A.K. Mathur today said that he has written to the Centre recommending amendments in the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.

Speaking at a seminar on “Military Justice System and Armed Forces Tribunal”, organised to mark the first anniversary of the AFT’s Chandigarh bench, Justice Mathur said that the AFT should have powers to issue contempt to ensure compliance of orders, which is found wanting by the implementing agencies.

He was also highly critical of the military judicial system, pointing out that judicial review of court martial trials revealed severe shortcomings in the military process and gross violations of the established procedures and methodology of investigations and conduct of criminal trial.

Justice Mathur said that matters concerning summary court martial and postings should also be shifted from the ambit of the High Court to the AFT to end dual jurisdiction. Justice Mathur also squarely blamed the military for the troubles that veterans are facing on grant and fixation of pension, especially disability pension. Pointing towards the non-cooperative attitude of the services towards administrative issues, he said that some senior commanders viewed the Tribunal as an institution created to usurp their authority and powers.

Head of the AFT’s Chandigarh Bench, Justice Ghanshyam Prashad said that in courts martial, officers given the task of judges have no formal legal training and therefore, there was a greater risk of miscarriage of justice. He added that there should be a separate cadre of officers with a legal background to hold court martial proceedings. He added that despite some shortcomings, the Tribunal is a boon to service personnel as it checked oppressive steps.

Former Vice-Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi pointed out that the system of military justice was a time-tested process with in-built checks and balances to ensure transparency, fairness and unwarranted command influence.

The Centre’s counsel, Captain Sandeep Bansal said that discipline is the bedrock of the armed forces and the courts should ensure that in the process of delivering justice, discipline is not compromised. He also said that matters concerning the Army’s group insurance should be brought under the AFT’s ambit.

Stating that appeals and revisions against the High Court and the AFT orders were being filed by the government in contravention of the National Litigation Policy, Major Navdeep Singh said that there were several issues that should not have reached the litigation stage as these could have easily been sorted out by the Defence Ministry and the pension authorities.

Chandigarh, November 20
The police is yet to trace the miscreants who robbed a bank manager of his Maruti Swift Dezire car at gunpoint from Madhya Marg in Sector 8 here on Friday night.

ASP (Central) Deshraj Singh said they had prepared sketches of the suspects on the basis of the description provided by the victim, GC Kaushik, manager of State Bank of India, Sector 17. “Efforts were on to trace the robbers. We are getting details from toll plazas in the surrounding areas and out team has also contacted the Panchkula police for clues as the incident of carjacking through similar modus operandi had occurred there earlier,” said the ASP.

Kaushik said he spent around four hours with the police providing description of the suspects for preparing the sketches.

Two unidentified youth robbed Kaushik of his car at gunpoint when he was listening to a call on his mobile phone. The robbers hit on his head before taking away his car and the mobile phone.

The police found tower location of his mobile phone in Sector 8 after the incident and searched the area. However, they failed to trace the car. “It might be possible that the robbers had threw the mobile phone somewhere in Sector 8. They might have snatched the mobile hone, so that he victim could not make a call to the police informing about the incident,” said a police official.

Chandigarh, November 20
UT Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar is in the dock, with the administration recommending a CBI inquiry against him to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for allegedly tampering with the orders of former UT Administrator SF Rodrigues in connection with the extension of lease deed of the Chandigarh Golf Association (CGA).

According to sources, Sanjay Kumar, in a bid to secure a life-term membership of the CGA for himself and Adviser to the UT Administrator Pradip Mehra, forged certain official documents.

The administration has also reportedly recommended his repatriation to his parent state of Punjab. Sanjay Kumar’s tenure ends in January-2011 and VK Singh’s name has already been cleared for the post of finance secretary.

The current case against him dates back to last year, when Sanjay Kumar, who was exercising the powers of Chief Administrator, got an additional clause added to the CGA’s lease deed for making Mehra and himself as lifetime members of the CGA even after their repatriation/retirement. The said clause was allegedly added by Sanjay Kumar without seeking Rodrigues’ approval.

The lid on the case was blown off when a senior functionary of the CGA went to Mehra for handing over the life membership card earlier this month. Mehra reportedly objected to the membership as he had never applied for the same.

In the meantime, the administration sought Finance Secretary’s explanation to which he claimed that he had sought Rodrigues’s approval for amending the CGA lease deed.

However, the matter went to the Legal Remembrancer, who reportedly ruled that the papers approved by Rodrigues and amended lease were different.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Kumar could not be contacted for his comments.

Chandigarh, November 19
The City Beautiful, with the highest per capita income in the country, is home to 30 per cent undernourished schoolchildren. In addition, 19 per cent of them have been found to be anaemic during a medical examination of children conducted under School Health Programme.

Though the figure of such children seems to lesser than the national average with over 46 per cent of children undernourished and 69 per cent anaemic, the situation cannot be termed satisfactory given the high standard of living in the city.

The city has 267 schools, including private and Kendriya Vidylayas, with 2,21,775 students on roll. It means there are over 70,000 school-going children in poor health due to the non-availability of proper food.

Similarly, 37 per cent of the students have been found to be having dental caries, while the refractory error was equal to the national average of 9 per cent.

The report, however, is not without good news. There has been improvement compared to 2008, when 56 per cent of the children were found undernourished in the schools located in urban areas alone. In schools catering to the needs of slum and rural areas, this figure was as high as 62 per cent.

According to Dr Paramjyoti, nodal officer of programme, the main reason behind the improvement seems to be the expansion of mid-day meal scheme up to middle school. Earlier only primary class students received mid-day meal, she said. Interestingly, she said although precise figures were not available, the number of children living in slum areas with eyesight problems and dental caries was actually lesser than those belonging to well-to-do families. Obesity, too, was negligible in the slums, she said.

Pointing to how lifestyle is a reason behind it, she said children living in poverty eat the home-cooked fibre-rich food most of the time. On the other hand, children from well-off families eat more junk food and spend long hours before computers and televisions, which contribute to obesity. You can find burgers, pasta and noodles in lunch boxes of students in many renowned schools of the city, she added. Children in slums rarely get chocolates and other sweets, which is a blessing in disguise, as cases of caries in teeth are not many in these areas, she added.

Chandigarh, November 20
PEC Fest gathered momentum on day two with all organisers and participants carrying on with vigour.

The first event of the day “Virtual Stock Market” and second round of “The Apprentice”, an event based on a reality show saw a huge participation. Simultaneously, at other venues today, finals of Hindi and English debate took place. CCET, Sector 26, bagged first positions in English debate. “Real Estate Tycoon” and “Wordict” were other events of the day.

“Got Talent”, a platform for youngsters to showcase their talent was a hit among participants and there were number of dancers, singers and actors all vying for top honours.

The stage play also concluded today, with PEC, DAV and CCET among those competing for honours.

Panchkula, November 20
Mahatma Hansraj Aryan National Youth Festival will be organised at Hansraj Public School.

Participants from 13 zones, including Bihar, Delhi, Haryana (Faridabad), Haryana (Panchkula), Himachal Pradesh, J & K, Ranchi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatishgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, South, UP, Uttarakhand, WB, Orissa and Sikkim will be participating in the three-day event.

Principal Jaya Bhardwaj in a press release issued here today, stated that competitions in ved mantra, qawwali, debate, declamation, quiz, rangoli, painting, greeting card making, skit, group songs, devotional/bhajan/ shabad, welcome songs, patriotic song, solo songs-light vocal solo, classical vocal Indian, ghazal, folk dance and classical dance solo would be held.

Bhardwaj said Punam Suri, secretary, DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, would be the chief guest, while Mohan Lal, secretary, Arya Vidya Sabha, New Delhi, would preside over the function.

Justice AL Bahri, vice-president, DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, will be the guest of honour.

Chandigarh, November 20
On the occasion of Gurpurb a special lecture was delivered by Jaspal Kaur Kaang, chairperson of the Guru Nanak Sikh Studies for students and research scholars in the department of University School of Open Learning, Panjab University.

Emphasising upon the need to study and understand Nanak’s preachings in the present scenario, Jaspal expressed that Guru’s preachings give relevant and right direction to the mankind for a balanced, healthy and meaningful life.

She said the Guru gave a message of love, peace and commitment to good deeds. During deliberations, researchers and students also expressed their views. It was also felt that Guru Nanak gave a practical religion, which is associated with social, cultural and ethical concerns.

Informing the students about Guru Tegh Bahadur Bhawan being built opposite to the USOL building, she said the bhawan would create a new history in Panjab University.

Kaang also invited the students to join the inauguration ceremony of the bhawan on November 24.

Chandigarh, November 20
A book of literary criticism authored by Akshaya Kumar, the Department of English and Cultural Studies, Panjab University, has been acknowledged by ‘World Literature Today’ (WLT) as one of the “essential” books on modern Indian writings since Independence.

World Literature Today is a literary journal and is published by the University of Oklahoma, United States. The journal has chosen Kumar’s Poetry, “Politics and Culture: Essays on Indian Texts and Contexts” as one among the 60 books of modern Indian writings, which “have served as important literary markers” in the post-Independence India.