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PPSC ‘Scam’
Renomination of sitting MLAs |
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Cricket World Cup
Akal Takht releases amended Nanakshahi calendar in haste
The Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh (left), and SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar
(centre) release the amended Nanakshahi calendar in Amritsar on Thursday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Sand-mining contracts ‘freed’ from Cong leaders’ clutches
Ansari misses date with Ferozepur Cancellation of trip disappoints inmates of Home for Blind, orphanage
Two persons electrocuted
Gurdwara panel to recommend SGPC elections in May
Amritsar Central Jail
Saving crops from animals
A blue bull which was electrocuted in the Sanaur Bir area due to power released illegally in a wire fence.
A Tribune photograph
Sangat Darshan
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a sangat darshan programme held at Ghanaur on Thursday. A Tribune photograph
VDS to regularise tubewell power load
Declining Water Table
Demand to cancel FIR against 3 forest officials
Members of the Non-gazetted Forest Officers Association stage a dharna outside the Punjab Forest Complex in Sector 68,
Mohali, on Thursday.
Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan
Terkiana power plant faces uncertain future
Two doctors found absent from duty
HC: National litigation policy only on paper
HC: Remove cops convicted of murder
SC notice to state on octroi plea
Thrashing of jail inmate
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PPSC ‘Scam’ final decision Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 17 Virtually directing day-to-day proceedings in the matter from May 16, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Augustine George Masih also ordered the publication of a notice in newspapers for informing the doctors on the pendency of the case against the selections. With this, the Bench paved the way for their being heard in the case. The much-hyped vigilance commission report, virtually indicting the members, did find a mention in the proceedings. But no orders were passed in the open court for taking it on record. Taking note of the contention that the report was “leaked” to the media, the Bench simply observed that it was doing its job. The case will now come up for hearing on May 16. As the case came up before the Bench, Bar-at-law Himmat Singh Shergill, appearing for PPSC chairman Sanjit Kumar Sinha, complained that the copies of the report had not been supplied. He added that the report contained half truth, and “half truths are dangerous”. The Bench verbally observed in the open court that the report so far had not been taken on record. As such, so far there was no question of supplying the copies of the report. The Bench added the contentions raised in the bunch of petitions boiled down to three issued. Elaborating, the Bench asserted in the open court that the first one, raised by the chairman, was about an independent inquiry by the CBI or a retired Judge of the High Court. Noting the contentions raised in the petition, the Bench observed that it had been argued that the vigilance inquiry has been ordered by Punjab Chief Minister to bring discredit to the commission with a view to replace its members. The report has been filed but order to take it on record is yet to be passed. The other two issued were taking the inquiry report on record and demand for quashing the selections made by unsuccessful candidates. The Bench asserted though in some of the cases a number of doctors have been made parties, all are not arrayed as respondents. As the issue of the selection is to be decided, a notice will have to be issued. Speaking for the Bench, Justice Gogoi directed that newspaper publication be made by the petitioners on the pendency of the petition so that appointed doctors could participate. The publication is to be made in three newspapers, including a vernacular daily, with a wide circulation.
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Mood in Congress compels Amarinder to change stand
Naveen S Garewal/TNS
Chandigarh, February 17 Party sources said that it was during the Rampura Phul rally in Bathinda district where the PCC president had announced that all sitting MLAs would get the party ticket after he saw the massive crowd organised by the MLAs. This was probably interpreted by different people in a different manner. The maverick Congress leader Jagmeet Brar, who misses no opportunity to criticise Amarinder after having lost the race of PCC presidentship to him, came out with an instant statement saying that Amarinder had no right to declare party candidates of his own and that, too, so early. The leader of the opposition in Punjab Assembly Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who though has mended her fences with Amarinder, came out with another statement saying, ticket allotment was the prerogative of the Congress President only. However, Capt Amarinder Singh sought to set at rest all speculations on the issue, saying being a sitting MLA would not necessarily be the sole criteria for choosing a candidate for awarding the party ticket. At the same time, all sections of society would need to be accommodated to ensure fair and reasonable representation to everyone so that no section felt aggrieved or underrepresented. The PCC President maintained that suitability and winnabilty of a candidate in a particular constituency would also be equally important. He pointed out that after the delimitation of the Assembly segments, all over Punjab several factors had changed which would need and necessitate the change of approach and strategy.
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Sports lovers of Punjab disappointed
Unable to catch action on major TV channels Rajay Deep Tribune News Service
Bathinda, February 17 Their dejection deepened today when they failed to enjoy the live telecast of the opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011, at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka. “It is quite depressing that the World Cup events have started taking place and the sports channels are not being telecast on the cable network,” rued a cricket lover, Sanjeev Sachdeva of Bathinda. A housewife, Suneeta Goyal of Muktsar, said, “As the three sports channels are not being telecast on the cable TV network, my cricket-crazy sons are forcing me to go for the DTH service but I fear that it will cost me dear.” Like them, there are many others who want to catch the World Cup action but the cable operators have been depriving these sport buffs of a chance to do so. “I request the operators to resolve the tussle, if any, and to start the telecast of these sports channels as the Cricket World Cup is being co-hosted by India and we are being deprived of its thrill,” said one Ranbir Singh of Bathinda. “My request to the cable operators in this regard fell on deaf ears. Just after two days, India and Bangladesh will face off at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, but it will be our bad luck if the cable operators do not start telecasting the channels by that time,” said a college student Mandeep Singh. Sources in the Fastway network group said that observing the fan following of the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011, the authorities of the three channels were demanding a much higher subscription fee from the cable network operators, which the operators refused to pay terming it to be beyond the justified rates. As they expressed their inability to pay, their subscription to the ESS channels bouquet was withdrawn. Speaking over the phone, the General Manager of the Fastway network, Mukesh Sharma, said, “We are aware of the viewers’ anxiety but we, too, are helpless as the fee being demanded is not viable for us. Still observing the demand of the sports lovers, we are negotiating with the channels.” “We will try our best to restart the telecast of the three channels before the Word Cup starts on February 19,” Sharma added. The final of the Word Cup is scheduled for April 2 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
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Akal Takht releases amended
Amritsar, February 17 The release of the calendar was originally scheduled for Chet 1 (March 14), which is the first day of the Nanakshahi calendar. However, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and SGPC President Avtar Singh released the calendar at the Akal Takht Secretariat in an impromptu media gathering. Justifying the early release of the calendar, the Jathedar said: “It is the right of Akal Takht to release the calendar whenever it wishes. Also the calendar needs to be sent to the Sikh sangat living far off ahead of the start of the new year.” Apparently taking on Purewal, he said: “I appeal to the Sikh sangat to observe the events as per this calendar to uphold the respect of Akal Takht and follow the Takht’s edicts for the unity of the community.” On the other hand, the SGPC President lashed out at Purewal and dubbed him egoistic. “It is not his personal calendar. The changes have been made as per the sentiments of the Sikh community and all rights to bring about any change lie with Akal Takht,” he added. On clashing of events and other anomalies, he said: “We will cross the bridge when we reach it.”
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Sand-mining contracts ‘freed’ from
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 17 Majithia was addressing a rally in Sirhind Grain Market. He said the Centre has failed to control scams. He alleged that scams like 2G, Commonwealth Games and black money accumulated by politicians in foreign banks have led to loss of crores of rupees. Majithia claimed that his party has given employment to 70,000 people in all government departments and the recruitment process was completed in the most transparent manner. Later, talking to the media, he said the revenue of the Excise Department was Rs 1,363 crore in 2007, which has now increased to Rs 2,197 crore. He pointed out that during the tenure of the Congress government, mere Rs 5,500 crore were deposited in the treasury, which has now increased to Rs 11,000 crore. He also promised 33 per cent seats for the youth in coming Vidhan Sabha elections.
Sidelights
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Ansari misses date with Ferozepur
Bathinda/Ferozepur, Feb, 17 The Vice-President accompanied by Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil and HK Dua, MP, was scheduled to land at Bhisiana Air Force station in Bathinda at 10 am from where he was to board a chopper for Ferozepur. In Ferozepur, Ansari was to visit an orphanage and the Home for the Blind before visiting Badal village for a lunch hosted in his honour by the Chief Minister. To receive the Vice-President and the Governor, senior officials in Bathinda, including DIG Lok Nath Angra and Deputy Commissioner S. Karuna Raju, had reached Bhisiana. At 10 am, the DC received an intimation that the plane could not take off and might get delayed by an hour. After an hour, the DC again received information that the tour of the Vice-President had been cancelled due to bad weather. A similar communication was also sent to the Muktsar and Ferozepur district administrations. However, unconfirmed sources said Ansari cancelled his visit after he came to know about the death of two labourers while fixing a flex board to welcome him. The cancellation of the visit led to disappointment among inmates of the Home for the Blind and Arya Anathalya (orphanage) in Ferozepur and the Old Age Home at Badal. Ansari also had to inaugurate the platinum jubilee function of the Dev Samaj College for Women in Ferozepur. The inmates had hoped that the plight of their institutions, which have been running on donations without substantial help from the Centre and state governments, would improve after Ansari’s visit. Harish K Monga, assistant secretary, said HK Dua was to announce Rs 15 lakh from his MPLAD funds for providing inmates with talking computers. PPCC general secretary Parminder Singh said Ansari was likely to visit the town within a few weeks.
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Cancellation of trip disappoints inmates of Home for Blind, orphanage Ferozepur, February 17 Ansari along with Shiv Raj Patil, Governor, Punjab, and other dignitaries was to attend three functions in the town today. He was to inaugurate the platinum jubilee function of the local Dev Samaj College for Women as well. The inmates of Home for the Blind and Arya Anathalya had high hopes from Ansari’ visit, who was expected to make some announcement in that connection. “Ansari could have announced a number of facilities for the institution,” pointed out Vishnu Parshad, an inmate of the Home for the Blind. Harish K Monga, assistant secretary, said HK Dua, MP, who was also to visit along with Ansari, was to announce a Rs 15 lakh grant from his MPLADS funds for providing the inmates with talking computers. The students of Dev Samaj College were also disappointed. The district administration along with the management of the three institutions, had carried out massive decoration of the city and cantonment area for the visit. Welcome boards had been erected and a large number of cops from various districts of Punjab had been pressed into service for the security arrangements. Sources said a letter from Ansari’s office had been faxed to the Deputy Commissioner’s office here, in which it was mentioned that his visit had been cancelled as his plane could not take off due to the bad weather. However, unconfirmed sources said Ansari cancelled his visit after he came to know about the death of two labourers while fixing the flex board to welcome him. Meanwhile, Parminder Singh, general secretary, PPCC, who was instrumental in arranging the visit, said Ansari was likely to visit within a few weeks. He also expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families of the two
labourers.
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Two persons electrocuted
Ferozepur, February 17 District Magistrate KK Yadav has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and SDM (Ferozepur) Gurjit Singh had been directed to submit a report within 10 days. Tension gripped the town when kin of the deceased staged a blockade on one of the roads leading to the venue of the function to be attended by Ansari and others. They also damaged flex boards and raised slogans. However, the protesters, who had also brought the dead bodies there, lifted the blockade after the Deputy Commissioner gave an assurance to them that the families of the deceased would be given a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh by the district administration and the management of Dev Samaj College for Women jointly. The DC also gave them an assurance that one of the members of the bereaved families would be given job. On the basis of the complaint of Gurpreet Singh, a co-worker, a case under Section 304-A of the IPC has been registered against Rajeev Tiwari, who runs the flex board manufacturing company and had hired the deceased for fixing the same at different locations here.
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Gurdwara panel to recommend SGPC elections in May
Chandigarh, February 17 Justice Brar said the commission would ask the Union Home Ministry to hold the elections in May 2011 as the final voters’ lists were ready and all other preparations were in order. The SGPC
elections were earlier expected to be held in March or April 2011. “It is for the Union Home Ministry to announce the date, but we are asking them to hold them in the first week of May,” Justice Brar told The Tribune. Once the date is announced by the Union Government, all other schedules would be prepared and implemented by the commission. Justice Brar said applications had already been invited for the allotment of symbols on which parties would contest the. These symbols would be allotted soon after holding a meeting with political parties. The SGPC poll in a pre-election year is rather significant and can set a trend for the next general election in Punjab, due in February 2012. Currently the SAD led by Sukhbir Singh Badal has a majority in the SGPC. Justice Brar said the poll would be held on regular ballot papers and electronic voting machines would not be used. Around 55 lakh Sikh voters have become eligible to caste their vote for the SGPC elections. It is for the first time that only Keshdhari Sikhs have been entered as eligible voters. In all the elections will see 157 members from 110 constituencies in Punjab, eight in Haryana and one each in Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh go to the SGPC.
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Over 2,500 inmates lack access to emergency medical aid GS Paul Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 17 As a substitute for two doctors, Dr Suman Kumar and Dr Ramesh Kumar, who were shifted from the jail recently, the Punjab Health Department could spare only one doctor, Dr Manjeet Singh, a medical officer with the Civil Hospital. Ironically, the other medical experts’ team to assist him will comprise three pharmacists and some jail inmates, who have been ‘trained’ in administering first aid because, going by the precedent, no qualified nursing care faculty was available with the jail doctors. Several jail inmates had reportedly lost their lives in the past for want of timely medical aid. It was only after the death of an inmate, Amarjit Singh, recently, that Dr Suman, who was on night emergency duty then, was blamed for being late in reaching the patient on time. In retaliation, some inmates thrashed him in the jail premises only. After the incident, both the doctors had sought transfer on the ground of threat to their lives. Dr Suman has been transferred to the Civil Hospital, Ajnala, while Dr Ramesh Kumar joined at Kangra colony dispensary. Dr Suman said, "Those were the most adverse conditions under which I and my colleague worked. With no nursing facility, laboratory, sweeper or other supporting staff, we had to train jail inmates to assist us. In these circumstances, the whole lot of jail inmates, out of which 40 per cent have been suffering from chronic ailments, have been to God’s mercy,” he said. Jail Deputy Superintendent Balbir Singh Bisla agreed that the medical facilities in the jail were inadequate and this had been conveyed to the Civil Surgeon's office. However, he said, "The doctors themselves are not willing to stay in their official residences. They treat these like places to relax in between their duty hours. The maintenance aspect of these houses will be no big deal, had they agreed to shift here on a regular basis.”
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Farmers to face action for using charged barbed wires
Aman Sood Tribune News Service
Patiala, February 17 While the Department of Forests, Punjab, has limited means and is facing a staff crunch, the Police Department and the electricity board officials have also failed to check such illegal power connections. Two blue bulls were killed in a Bir in Patiala following power released by farmers into the barbed wires around the crops. “We are helpless in checking such connections as there are many agricultural lands near the Birs, where farmers resort to such practices,” he said. Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab, Gurbaj Singh, said he would issue a letter to all conservators and Divisional Forest Officers in Punjab to check such cruelty against animals, where farmers are using electric current to kill animals on the pretext of saving their crops. “We would also make the farmers aware about the same and write to all Deputy Commissioners to ensure that farmers who use such cruel methods are challanned,” he added. A farmer said wild boars and blue bulls enter the fields at night and cause damage to the crops. “It is impossible to personally guard your fields at night and the easiest possible way is to use electric wires to keep animals away,” added another farmer. The local authorities seem to have no clue about the death of the animals. Villagers take away corpse if a wild boar dies of electrocution without informing anyone, residents rue. The Minister for Forest and Wildlife, Punjab, Tikshan Sud, said he would direct all members of the field staff to take strict action involving local authorities. “We would stop this barbaric act of killing wild animals which is dangerous to humans as well,” he added.
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Amarinder’s allegations regarding PPSC baseless, says Badal Umesh Dewan/TNS
Ghanaur (Patiala), February 17 Replying to a media query that in case the SAD-BJP came to power in Punjab in the next Assembly elections, whether SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal would be made the CM, Badal said, “It was up to the party to decide.” He further said that even for him, the party decision is the final binding, while adding that throughout his career, he had never objected to the decision taken by the Akali Dal. The CM also made it clear that the sole criteria for allocating the party ticket for the next Assembly elections, scheduled for early 2112, would be the “winnability” of the candidate. Referring to the issue of land acquisition, Badal pointed out that it was the SAD-BJP government, which had notified a new land acquisition policy. “Under the policy, private land would be acquired, only if the land was needed for a defined public purpose, at the actual market rate in addition to 30 per cent solatium and 10 per cent as non-litigation charges, to fully compensate the farmers,” he added. The CM said he had directed the Drainage Department to take up the matter of up-gradation and widening of siphons over Narwana Branch of Bhakra Main Line at Lachru Khurd and Majari Fakirana villages at a cost of Rs 12 crore, with the Central Water Commission (CWC), under the Union Ministry of Water Resources. Meanwhile, Badal listened to the grievances of over 86 village panchayats of the Ghanaur Assembly constituency and also distributed grants worth Rs 3.18 crore for the development works. Badal also said that he was confident of finding an amicable solution to the issue of land acquisition for an IT park near Rajpura, for which he had already constituted a six-member committee.
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VDS to regularise tubewell power load
Patiala, February 17 This has resulted in deep boring and the use of submersible motors of a higher capacity by farmers to water their crops. After getting the nod from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, PSPCL CMD KD Chaudhri issued orders to this effect. “Because of the depletion of ground water in the state, farmers are compelled to use submersible motors of a higher capacity. As a result, the farmers, who had installed motors of a higher capacity than the sanctioned load, were facing punitive action under the Electricity Act 2003 by PSPCL,” said Chaudhri. The VDS scheme would provide farmers much needed relief, as the unauthorised load of agricultural tubewells would get regularised, he added. He said in the past, whenever PSPCL had announced VDS, the scheme received an overwhelming response. “Last time, about 2,40,000 AP consumers opted for VDS, after depositing a total of Rs 100 crore and helped PSPCL to add 645-MW authorised load,” he said. He said during the VDS, AP consumers can get their unauthorised load to agriculture tubewells regularised, and the scheme will remain applicable till April 30. Chaudhry said as per the policy, AP consumers already running on High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) with individual transformer of 6.3/10/16-KVA will give prior information for their load extension by depositing Rs 1,000 per Brake Horse Power (BHP) along with Rs 200 per BHP as initial security, so that necessary measures are taken to augment the transformer to match the extended load. He said augmentation of the line and distribution transformer, wherever required will be done by PSPCL at its cost.
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State gets Rs 100 crore central grant
Sarbjit Dhaliwal Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, February 17 Accompanied by Dr JS Samra, Chief Executive Office of the Rainfed Authority of India, Ashwani Kumar today interacted with farmers at Tarn Taran to apprise them about the scheme prepared to recharge the subsoil water in their area and also to hear suggestions from them to check the declining water table in the state. He would also interact with farmers at Gurdaspur tomorrow. Farmers told Kumar and officials accompanying him that the village ponds, which were allegedly being encroached by vested interests, should be used to recharge the subsoil water. Stressing on the diversification, farmers also suggested that the Central Government should fix remunerative Minimum Support Price (MSP) of less water guzzling crops such as maize to enable them to sow such crops. The Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, KS Pannu, said Amritsar-Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur belt is good for sowing maize. Farmers also sought more research on sprinkler irrigation systems to be done by Punjab Agricultural University as the existing sprinkler systems were ineffective.
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Demand to cancel FIR against 3 forest officials
Mohali, February 17 The association also threatened to launch an agitation if the demand was not fulfilled in four days. They threatened to suspend all development works being undertaken by the department across the state. Jasbir Singh, Circle Secretary of the association, said this while addressing a rally organized by the association outside the state headquarters of the Punjab Forest Complex in Sector 68 here. Employees from across the state took part. The police had acted at the behest of the sand mining mafia as the forest department was trying to check sand mining in the Nayagoan-Nada belt in Mohali district, they said. They said there were several instances wherein police delayed the registration of cases against violators of the Forest Rules. It took the police three months to register a case of assault against unscrupulous elements for detaining forest officials on duty. Last week, the police had booked Forest Range Officer Gurman Singh, guards Devinder Singh, Sahib Singh and Amrik Singh along with six others for allegedly threatening and assaulting Varinder Singh, a suspect in a sand mining case. While the police has been stating that the case had been registered after the victims moved court alleging non-registration of a case, the forest department officials alleged that the police was acting under pressure. Later, the association members submitted a memorandum of demands to the Deputy Commissioner, Mohali.
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Terkiana power plant faces uncertain future
Dasuya
(Hoshiarpur), February 17 Set up by Atlantic Power Private Limited (APPL), a company owned by NRI Avtar Singh Gill, the Punjab Energy Development Agencies (PEDA) had temporarily shut the plant down following protests by farmers of nearly 30 villages on January 29. Alleging waterlogging leading to damage to the crops, farmers under the leadership of local MLA Amarjit Singh Sahi had lodged a protest. He demanded that the plant should not be allowed to discharge water. The MLA had said he would not allow the company to run the plant at the cost of farmer’s crops. Having a capacity to generate 650-KW electricity, the Punjab Government had allocated the plant to the company over two years ago to clean the polluted Kali Bein. Senior officers from the PEDA had made it clear that the power plant was discharging only 200 CCs of water against its permitted limits of 350 CCs. The problem of water logging arose as the Bein was unable to carry the discharge from the plant because of its uneven bed, a team of PEDA officials had observed. Officials of the drainage department said there was no proposal to de-silt the Bein. The Deputy Commissioner, Dharam Dutt Tarnach, who visited the area two days ago, said, “A survey of the area was conducted by the experts after the problem arose. The issue is in the notice of the government and will be solved shortly.” Avtar Singh Gill, director and promoter of the company, has sought compensation from the government claiming that he was suffering a daily loss of Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh. “It was the government’s job to provide a hassle-free atmosphere to the company to run the project. The government has not solved the obstacle posed by the Bein bed which led to the problem. This is the fault of the Punjab Government. The government must compensate me for it,” claimed Gill.
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Two doctors found absent from duty
Ropar, February 17 During the checking of rural zila parishad dispensary at Bal Sanda village, Dr Sarwinder Singh was found absent. Similarly, at veterinary hospital in Surtapur farm Dr Jaswinder Singh was found absent. Mrar also visited Government Elementary School, Jhallian Kalan, Government Primary School, Surtapur Farm, Government Primary School, Surtapur Khurd, Government Elementary School, Khairabad, and aanganwari centres of Jhallian Kalan and Tappariyan Ghadispur and mini primary health centre, Surtapur Mand. During the visit, Mrar checked attendance of employees, snacks given to children as well as afternoon diet. The staff members of zila parishad Ropar and district training officer Ropar too were found present.
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HC: National litigation policy only on paper
Chandigarh, February 17 Talking to The Tribune just about a week ago, Union Minister of Law and Justice M Veerappa Moily and Additional Solicitor-General of India Mohan Jain had asserted that efforts were on to ensure the smooth translation of the policy into reality; and it would be in place in another six months. Justice Mittal’s assertion came on an appeal filed by the Union of India against Ripudaman Kaur in a property matter. Justice Mittal observed: The suit property is situated in Ferozepur Cantonment. The plaintiff, Union of India, alleged it was the owner of the entire land of the Cantonment, including land underneath suit bungalow number 50…. History of the suit land has also been traced. Having been granted in the year 1891 to Mr A Dinshaw, agreement dated July 30, 1891, was executed by him in favour of the plaintiff, admitting the plaintiff's ownership and agreeing to occupy the suit land. “Thereafter rights in the bungalow were sold from one person to another and ultimately to the defendant-respondent Ripudaman Kaur”. Justice Mittal added: “The plaintiff-- Union of India -- is gravely abusing the process of the court by not only filing the suit, but also by filing first appeal and the instant second appeal. “It is plaintiff's own case that in the previous litigation, the plaintiff herein has lost up to Supreme Court. It has been pleaded by appellant itself that defendant herein was held to be owner of the suit property in the previous litigation. “It is completely beyond comprehension as to how the plaintiff can start this second round of litigation, seeking declaration that plaintiff is owner of the suit property, when the plaintiff's own case is that defendant herein has already been held owner of the suit property in the previous litigation as held up to Supreme Court….” Describing the second appeal as “merit less” and “completely frivolous”, Justice Mittal asserted: The Central Government claims to have framed litigation policy to reduce the burden of the courts by avoiding unnecessary litigation by Union of India. “However, instant litigation demonstrates the litigation policy is only on paper…. A copy of this judgment be sent to Ministry of Law and Justice and also to Ministry of Defence, Union of India, to take some curative steps to avoid such frivolous and unnecessary litigation.”
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HC: Remove cops convicted of murder
Chandigarh, February 17 In his
PIL, Arora had alleged that information received under the Right to Information Act had indicated that two
DSPs, Ravinder Kumar and Rajinderpal Anand, were in service despite conviction for murder and life sentence under Section 302,
IPC. Ravinder Kumar was earlier dismissed from service, but taken back when his sentence was suspended. DSP Rajinderpal
Anand, convicted on December 16, 2007, was not removed from service purportedly on the ground that approval for his dismissal was yet to be received from the
PPSC. Arora also referred to cases of ASI Malvinder Singh, constable Manjit Singh, inspector Harinderpal Singh, head constable Jaswant Singh and constable Gurcharan Singh. They were all similarly dismissed from service, when convicted for murder, but were reinstated on grant of bail. The petitioner contended under Rule 16.2 (2) of the Punjab Police Rules, “An enrolled officer convicted and sentenced to imprisonment on a criminal charge shall be dismissed, provided that in case the conviction of a police officer is set aside in appeal or revision, the officer empowered to appointment him shall review his case keeping in view the instructions issued by the Government in this behalf.” The petitioner had contended that the police officers convicted for a heinous charge of murder could not be expected to discharge their duties for protection of life and liberty of the citizens and for preserving the law and order in an impartial and lawful manner. After hearing counsel for petitioner RS
Bains, the Bench fixed February 21 for further orders.
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SC notice to state on octroi plea
New Delhi, February 17 The MCA has challenged the October 27, 2009, verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, directing BSNL and Punjab to resolve the octroi dispute by setting up a joint high-powered committee. A Bench comprising Justices Mukundakam Sharma and Anil R Dave also asked BSNL and the state government to respond to the MCA’s plea for staying the HC verdict and condoning the delay in filing the appeal. Appearing for the MCA, senior counsel Mahabir Singh and Nikhil Jain contended that the HC had failed to appreciate that only certain Central Government departments were exempted from the payment of octroi and government-owned companies were not entitled to this benefit under the provisions of Article 285(1) of the Constitution. The Department of Telecommunications had been converted into a government-owned public limited company and thus enjoyed none of the immunities or privileges of government departments, they contended. It was way back in May 1977 the MCA sought to levy octroi which was resisted by BSNL. The matter has been under litigation since 1996.
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Notice issued to state
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 17 In his petition filed in public interest through counsel Navkiran Singh, under-suspension cop Tarlochan Singh has alleged: “Sunil Kumar of Chandigarh was given beatings by a group of prisoners, being helped by the previous Deputy Superintendent of Jail Parminder Singh…. “The matter was reported to the Sessions Judge, Ropar, by Surinder Kaur, mother of Sunil Kumar, vide letter dated December 6, 2010….”
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Amritsar, February 17
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 17
His plane fails to take off due to inclement weather in Delhi
Reacting sharply to the accusations made by the PPCC president, Capt Amarinder Singh, that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was trying to subvert the independence of the PPSC by exerting pressure on some PPSC members to either submit to their diktats or quit, Badal said, “All such allegations are baseless and have no locus
standi.”
Mohali, February 17
Dasuya
(Hoshiarpur), February 17
