NEIGHBOURHOOD

Attempt to Murder Case
Six get 3-yr jail

Ropar, January 25
The Ropar court sentenced six persons to three-year imprisonment and Rs 1,000 fine each for attempt to murder.

In July 2007, Amar Chand, wife Saroj Rani, sons Surinder Kumar and Mandeep Kumar, daughter-in-law, Mamta Rani, Sohan Singh and Gurdeep Singh Deepa, all from Haripur village, and Neelam Rani, a resident of Kubbaheri village, and Pawan Kumar were booked under Sections 307, 459, 427, 342, 323, 506, 48 and 149 of the IPC.

The case was registered on the complaint of Harish Rani, wife of Nirmal Kumar from Haripur village. In her statement to the police, she has stated that on the day of incidence, all accused axed down the wall of her house and forcibly entered into it. She alleged that all accused attacked her, her son, Raman and husband Nirmal with sharp-edged weapons. Her son, Raman sustained serious injuries in the attack.

He was first taken to the Ropar Civil Hospital and later rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh. Addition District and Session Judge GS Dhillon today acquitted three accused, including Saroj Rani, Mamta Rani and Neelam Rani, and awarded three-year sentence each to other six accused. — TNS

Chandigarh, January 25
The UT State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission today issued notices to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH-16) and three doctors on a petition filed by Suman for allegedly administering wrong blood to her on December 16, 2010.

The commission, however, did not give any interim relief to the complainant by directing the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) to re-admit her as an indoor patient and continue her free treatment till she fully recovers. The commission also issued notice to the Medical Superintendent of the PGI. Both notices have been issued for February 14, 2011.

Arguing on her behalf, advocate Pankaj Chandgothia told the commission, comprising members Jagroop Singh Mahal and Neena Sandhu, that the PGI had wrongly discharged her on January 21, even though she was still medically unfit and was unable to walk without support.

Intravenous injections and heavy medicines are still to be administered to her. The PGI itself has asked her to visit the various OPDs almost daily, which is entirely onerous for her, as she is weak, fragile and unable to walk without help, added Chandgothia.

Talking to the Tribune, Chandgothia said the complaint had been filed on behalf of Suman, her husband Desraj and their minor children Vikas (10), Jyoti (8) and Akash (5). He said notices had been issued for February 14 to GMSH-16, Kirti Sood, lab technician, Dr Navdeep, intern, and Dr Manpreet, house surgeon, and the PGI.

Chandgothia said the complaint had been filed primarily on the basis of the conclusions in the inquiry report submitted by the SDM (South) on January 3.The report, as quoted in the complaint, concludes: "The three doctors of GMSH-16 had done gross medical negligent act causing death of the foetus and kidney damage to the patient and which is punishable under Section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code. Moreover, the damages that accrued to the patient and her family can be claimed under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, as their act constitutes deficiency in service and negligence."

He has sought Rs 1 crore compensation on account of Rs 5 lakh towards re-imbursement of medical and other expenses incurred, Rs 15 lakh towards loss of earnings of Desraj, Rs 9 lakh towards loss of earnings of Suman, Rs 54 lakh towards minimum expected expenditure to be incurred on medicines for lifetime, Rs 2 lakh each as token damages for each of the children to compensate them for the physical and emotional loss of a mother's love and care, which she is unable to give due to her medical condition and Rs 3 lakh each as punitive damages against each of the guilty doctors, nurses as token punishment for their medical negligence.

Chandigarh, January 25
In a significant judgment, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the expansion of policy for providing housing, accommodation or land to the disabled to cover all categories of persons with disabilities as defined by the 1995 Equal Opportunities Act.

The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Augustine George Masih at the same time left it “to the discretion of the state to specify the percentage of reservation for each of the categories.” The judgment is significant as it will go a long way in benefiting mentally challenged persons.

Disposing of a bunch of public interest litigations by Gurcharan Singh and others against the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and other respondents, the Bench observed: “The principal direction sought in these writ petitions is in respect of the reservation policy for allotment of houses and plots in PUDA by extending the same to mentally challenged persons.”

“Though a policy is in force, the same applies only to physically handicapped/ visually impaired persons and does not cover the other categories of persons with disabilities within the meaning of Section 2 (i) of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995,” the Bench observed.

Referring to Section 43 of the Act, the Bench observed: “It clearly stipulates that scheme should be framed in favour of persons with disabilities for preferential allotment of land at concessional rates. Disability means blindness, low vision, leprosy-cured, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental retardation and mental illness.”

“If the expression disability under the Act covers seven categories of persons, including persons suffering from mental retardation and mental illness, we do not see how a scheme or a policy framed pursuant to Section 43 of the Act can have a restricted meaning to the said definition,” the Bench observed.

“We, therefore, direct that the policy in force for providing housing/accommodation/land to disabled persons be suitably expanded to all categories of persons with disabilities as defined by Section 2 (i) of the 1995 Act,” the Bench observed. 

Panchkula, January 25
Even after the CFSL report received by the Chandi Mandir police confirming death of Payal, daughter-in-law of a retired colonel, through strangulation, the police is yet to arrest the accused in the case.

The five accused, including Vinod (husband), Pardeep (brother-in-law), Capt (retd) Jaidev and Sharbati Devi (father-in-law and mother-in-law, respectively) and a close relative, Jaswant Singh are absconding after the police registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC against them.

The deceased’s body was found dumped in the water tank at the rooftop of her house to give it a look of suicide. On the complaint of her father Hanuman Parshad, a resident of Faridabad, had booked five persons of her in-laws family for strangulating her to death on November 18 last year.

The post-mortem had also confirmed that Payal was first strangulated with a cord and later dumped in the water tank. The police also suspected some foul play, as the body of the victim was found in the standing position.

Hanuman Parshad in his complaint to the police had alleged that the accused were continuously harassing his daughter for bringing dowry. He had claimed that he had given 360 gm gold jewellery, a Zen car, besides spending Rs 15 lakh on the marriage.

When contacted, the SHO Chandi Mandir police station, Jangsher said they were waiting for the final opinion of the panel of doctors headed by Dr Ghambir and would arrest the accused once they receive the same.

Chandigarh, January 25
DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, Chandigarh, made it to the final of the Cremica Cricket Cup-2011 after beating Hindu Sabha, Amritsar, by nine runs in the first semifinal match held at Gandhi Ground, Amritsar, today.

Put in to bat first, the DAV team made 137 for seven in the allotted 20 overs. Naveen and Prashant hit 40 runs each. Rakesh claimed three wickets, conceding 25 runs.

Chasing the target, Amritsar team could muster 129 runs in the allotted quota of overs, losing eight wickets in the course. Harmandeep Singh chipped in 30 runs in 19 balls, while Lavan Gill and Ashwani contributed 28 and 27 runs, respectively.

For DAV-8, Rahul claimed three for 21 in four overs.

Brief score:

DAV-8: 137 for 7 in 20 overs (Naveen 40, Abhishek 9, Prashant 40, Krishan 20; Rakesh 3 for 25).

Hindu Sabha: 129 for 8 in 20 overs (Harmandeep 30, Lavan Gill 28, Ashwani 27; Rahul 3 for 21).