Chandigarh, February 24
Hundreds of parents aspiring to admit their children to city-based minority schools have been left an anxious lot, with schools deciding to indefinitely postpone their draw of lots scheduled for tomorrow.

St John’s School and Sacred Heart School, both in Sector 26, St Annes in Sector 32 and Carmel Convent School in Sector 9 have decided to delay the admission process after filing an appeal against Punjab and Haryana High Court’s prior order of fixing September 30, 2006, as the cut-off age criterion for nursery admissions.

“Admissions are jinxed this year. I had decided to look for another school only after getting the results of draw of lots here. This delay has now left me in a fix. My child is four years old and is currently enrolled in a play school. What if he does not get admission to this school? He will have no option but to continue studying in a playway, as admissions to nursery classes in all reputed schools are already over. Who will be responsible for the loss of an academic year?” asked Ripjot Kaur, mother of a prospective student seeking admission to St John’s School.

Chandigarh, February 24
Hundreds of litigants who thronged the district courts in Sector 17 today suffered great inconvenience.

Caught unawares by the strike of advocates, litigants were left harassed as their cases were adjourned to another date and were not heard. This is the third time this month alone that work has remained suspended in the district courts owing to the suspension of work by advocates.

The reason behind the strike appeared even more bizarre. For, the advocates had suspended their work today to express their solidarity with their counterparts in faraway Amritsar following an alleged assault on an advocate in the District Transport Officer’s office in that city. While the incident occurred three weeks ago on February 3 and has no connection with Chandigarh, the local District Bar Association (DBA) chose to suspend work 21 days after the incident. Bearing the brunt were scores of litigants who had come from far-off places only to be informed that their respective cases had been adjourned.

“This is sheer harassment. I patiently waited for the hearing of my property dispute case and finally when the day arrived, we were told after a wait of three hours that my case is adjourned. I am a heart patient, a diabetic and it’s not easy for me to come here every time, only to end up wasting my time. The next hearing is now after 45 days,” said 66-year-old HL Aggarwal, a retired bank officer and a Sector 15 resident, who has been fighting a property dispute case for the past six years.

“I was caught unawares by the strike, as nobody told me that work in the courts had been suspended. My wife, son and I came all the way from Panchkula for the hearing of our cheque-bounce case. We waited for two hours, only to be told that the hearing has been adjourned to March 15 as the lawyers have suspended all work,” said Ranjit Singh, a senior citizen and resident of Panchkula.

Chandigarh, February 24
The search and seizure operations conducted by the income tax department’s investigation wing on 18 premises of three major builders in the city and its periphery on February 18 has yielded rich dividends for the department with the groups making a voluntary surrender of concealed income to the tune of Rs 23 crore.

Talking to The Tribune, director of Investigation YR Saini said while the Chandigarh based Mehta group had surrendered Rs 9 crore, the MG group of Panchkula and the Punjab-based Zander group surrendered Rs 10 crore and Rs 4 crore, respectively.

Chandigarh, February 24
The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has upheld its earlier decision directing the PGI and its then neuro-surgery department’s head, Dr VK Khosla, to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for carelessness, negligence and deficiency in service to the family of a patient, Indrawati Sharma, who had died after being operated upon in 1999.

The commission’s earlier order was issued in 2001, but both the PGI and the complainant had challenged the verdict in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. In 2005, the national commission had referred the case back to the UT commission with a direction for re-examining the witnesses. However, the matter kept pending for three and a half years as neither the PGI and the doctor nor the complainant appeared before the UT commission.

In 2000, Devinder Kumar Sharma of Ludhiana had moved the UT commission alleging that his wife had died due to a doctor’s negligence at the PGI. In the complaint, it was stated that Indrawati was admitted to the hospital for the treatment of ophthalmic aneurysm (a balloon-like bulge of a blood vessel caused by a disease or weakening of the vessel walls and can result in haemorrhage). It was alleged that due to the non-availability of the drill procedure, the operation was abandoned midway and the closure was done without the clipping of aneurysm. The complainant had further said his wife was operated upon again a few days after but she died as she could not take the stress of the repeated surgeries.

The PGI had denied the allegations and had submitted an affidavit of Dr Khosla in which it was clearly stated that the drill was not needed for completing the operation. However, the UT commission, after a perusal of the affidavit, found that the doctor’s stand was inconsistent.

Interestingly, the affidavit stated: “The drill was not necessary and the first operation had been performed even without a drill machine.” However, in the very next paragraph, the doctor had admitted that the drill machine was available as they borrowed it from another but it was also malfunctioned.”

The UT commission had then rejected the PGI’s contention and held that the hospital’s records showed that the operation commenced and the patient’s skull was cut and removed for clipping the aneurysm, but the procedure had to be abandoned due to the non-availability of the machine. The commission had pulled up the hospital for its carelessness and directed it to pay Rs 2 lakh as a compensation.

Chandigarh, February 24
With 50 companies and more than 1,000 participants registered so far, Panjab University is all set to host its annual job fair from March 4 to March 6 with students from all teaching departments coming together for one major recruitment drive on the campus.

The PU job fair involves tireless efforts of University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) students, who claim to have mailed nearly 16,000 companies and called up 8,000 company officials so far.

“Our team of nearly 25 students of UIET have been putting up posters in all departments. A team of two-three persons are visiting each department and informing chairpersons and students about the job fair,” said Vipul Nangia, a BE (second year) biotech student of UIET, who is a member of the job fair team.

Led by Manu Sharma, coordinator of the job fair, along with committee members appointed by the university, top multinational companies have already placed the students.

“I had proposed the idea of a university-level job fair two years back. It required a lot of planning and initially I had joined just joined as a member of the placement team working for the fest. But, eventually, I became the student coordinator of the event,” said Priyansh, a BE final-year student, UIET, and student coordinator of the event.

“I look at this job fair as future investment for Panjab University. This is a process of brand building for the university. If we are contributing to this job fair, I hope that it will pay us back when it is our turn for placements,” said Vipul.

The UIET students are now gearing up to take out an awareness rally on PU campus, followed by a skit at the student centre by a theatre group of UIET named “Osmium”.

An orientation session would also be conducted for the registered students at the English Auditorium on February 27 at 11 am, in which human resource companies would be invited to prepare students for interviews.

Due to the provision of online registration for the job fair, training and placement officials of other colleges and students are now approaching the PU’s job fair organising team to permit them to be a part of the job fair. “The response has been tremendous, not only from our own campus but also from other colleges. Although, we declined other colleges since the primary aim is to get campus students recruited first,” added Vipul.

Chandigarh, February 24
Going by the budget estimates prepared by the accounts department of Municipal Corporation (MC), an otherwise cash-rich MC is heading for a major revenue loss in the coming fiscal year.

Thanks to “alert” babus in the MC, a budgetary estimate conspicuous by its glaring mistakes under various revenue heads was today presented before the members of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC).

The “deficit” budget, tabled at the General House meeting scheduled for February 28, had alert members of the F&CC, who didn’t check the anomaly.

Questioning the wisdom of the officials concerned, nominated councillor Dr AP Sanwaria, who pointed out the anomaly, said the authorities were not being careful with their job.

Incidentally, the Congress councillors, who form a majority in the House, were not present for the meeting.

As per what are clearly error-ridden budgetary provisions, the revenue under the estate receipt will be reduce from Rs 32.96 crore to Rs 29 crore, the collection of sewerage cess will be Rs 25 crore against Rs 25 crore during the current fiscal year.

Similarly, the revenue collected from Apni Mandi this year would be Rs 30 lakh compared to Rs 75 lakh in the current fiscal year.

Quick to admit the mistake during the meeting, Municipal Commissioner Roshan Sunkaria and Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh said the mistake would be rectified before tabling it in the General House meeting on February 28.

Citing the correct figures, an official said that the proposed budget for the next fiscal year was Rs 778.98 crore, which works out to 12.76 per cent more than the current financial year.

The committee approved the estimates of Rs 459.02 crore under plan head and Rs 319.96 crore under the non-plan head for the financial year 2011-12.

The committee also approved the proposed budget of Rs 96.85 crore for the improvement of roads, parking places and infrastructure facilities, Rs 66 crore for augmentation of Kajauli water works, Phase VII and VIII, Rs 45 crore for setting up of a birds’ slaughter house and sanitation programmes, Rs 29 crore for setting up of an upgraded sewerage treatment plant, and Rs 21 crore for storm water drainage.

Besides, the committee also approved Rs 25.15 crore for civic works, Rs 16.62 crore for primary health care, Rs 19 crore for primary education, Rs 15 crore for landscaping, Rs 16 crore for minor irrigation, Rs 12.70 crore for councillors ward development fund, Rs 3.80 crore for computerisation and Information Technology and Rs 2.80 crore for fire and emergency services.

Chandigarh, February 24
The UT Estate Office sealed the basement of one of the oldest hotels in the city, Mehfil, Sector 17, this morning for violations of building bylaws.

The enforcement wing of the Estate Office reached the hotel premises in the morning and sealed the basement area, The English Garden, which was being used as dining hall and banquet.

Later, they also sealed the first floor of the building from where an office of the Haryana Government was being run.

According to an order issued by Assistant Estate Officer, Hargunjit Kaur, around 11 violations were found in the building that included construction of bath, toilet, kitchen and extra staircase (not sanctioned in the plan) in the basement.

Besides, installation of AC duct and chimney in verandah and cooling system on the public passage roof were also noticed by the officials during their survey.

The order regarding sealing of the part or the whole building, where the violations exist, was served to the party yesterday.

Hotel owner Mulkh Raj claimed that there was no violation in his hotel and he was being targeted for vested interests of certain influential lobbies.

“We were served the sealing orders only yesterday and today they initiated the action. We were not given any time to get relief from court,” alleged Mulkh Raj while addressing mediapersons in the evening.

According to UT’s Assistant Estate Officer (AEO) Hargunjit Kaur, sealing the buildings for violations of building bylaws was an ongoing process. “We have more than 2,000 cases and no violator will be spared,” said the AEO.

Meanwhile, Mulkh Raj has filed civil writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the order today.

Mohali, February 24
Even as nearly all house owners in a pocket of Phase XI here have indulged in major building rule violations, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) finds its hands tied in the matter of taking action due to alleged political intervention.

As many as 158 houses, out of 160, were issued show-cause notices last month by GMADA under Section 45(3) of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, for the alleged building rule violations.

The allottees were given 30-day time to demolish the unauthorised construction or justify their action. However, the allottees replied to GMADA through letters sent last week, pleading that further action by GMADA should be stopped as talks were on with the government for more relaxation in the building rules. They were ready to pay a penalty of Rs 50 per sq yd to get the additional construction regularised.

The matter would now be sent for discussion to a five-member committee on need-based changes in houses in the town. This committee is headed by Additional Chief Administrator, GMADA, with the architect as convener and technical adviser, senior town planner and senior law officer as members.

Sources said a person living in the MIG Super flats had made a complaint against a neighbour to GMADA regarding building rule violations. The latter was then issued an eviction notice in accordance with the procedure. The affected allottee later sought information under the RTI Act from GMADA to know about the violations done by other residents in the area and action taken in this regard.

He later approached the State Information Commission. It is learnt that the State Information Commission then asked GMADA to carry out a survey of the area to know about the violations done by the allottees. It was after this survey that GMADA issued show-cause notices to violators.

Sukhminder Singh Barnala, former municipal councillor, who is one of the allottees of the houses in question, justified the violations and said houses were allotted in 1990-91 and the number of family members of residents had increased over the years, compelling them to construct additional rooms.

He said the matter was brought to the notice of the Punjab Chief Minister during a meeting held in Mohali.

Barnala further said the problems had also been brought to the notice of chairman of Mohali District Development Committee NK Sharma. The relaxation given in building rules by the committee on need-based changes was not adequate as one could not build a room by covering only 40 per cent of the open area as specified by the authorities concerned. He sought further relaxation in building rules to give relief to residents.

Mohali, February 24
The custodians of law and order are turning into lawbreakers, if the incidents of alleged highhandedness by officials of the Mohali police are any indication.

Yesterday’s incident of a security guard, posted at an ATM outside the office of the Punjab School Education Board in Phase VIII, being brutally beaten up allegedly by head constable Pavitar Singh has only reconfirmed the disturbing trend among the uniformed force.

Though the security guard was profusely bleeding in one of his ears, the case was hushed up by ‘forcing’ a compromise. The erring cop was let off only with a transfer to the police lines.

This was not an isolated incident. Many cases go unreported, as the victims dread to complain against the erring cops.

Few days ago, inebriated cops on the PCR duty signalled a scribe of a vernacular daily to stop near Amb Sahib gurdwara in Phase VIII.

Despite showing the documents of his vehicle, the scribe (who did not reveal his identity to the policemen) was taken to the Phase VIII police station. It was only after the scribe revealed his identity to senior police officials he was let off.

In another case, inebriated cops on the PCR duty had bashed up employees of a dhaba in Phase VII rehri market last year after the latter asked for food bill. With the help of cops from the 
Matour police station, the entire dhaba was ransacked and utensils were taken to the police station. The protesting shopkeepers were forced in to a 
compromise.

“The senior officials should conduct surprise checks during the night hours to see the highhandedness of the cops. At times the cops on night duty literally waylay motorists and most of the times it goes unchecked,” said Chetan Sharma, a resident of Phase VII.

SP (City) Harpreet Singh said regular checks were carried out by senior officials and whenever any such case came to light, appropriate action was taken.

Mohali, February 24
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) announced that it will give Rs 127 crore as compensation amount to farmers for acquiring 83 acres for the international airport road.

The compensation amount varies from Rs 1.50 crore per acre to Rs 1.80 crore per acre depending on the location. According to sources, it’s for the first time farmers will not have to come to the GMADA office to collect the payment, but cheques will be distributed to them in their villages.

Rs 1.30 crore was given to six small farmers through cheques as part of a formality, which was completed at the time of announcing the awards at the GMADA office.

GMADA estate officer Balbir Singh said Rs 1.50 crore per acre would be given to farmers as compensation for their land. However, the compensation for the first one acre falling on the Zirakpur-Ambala Highway (220 ft on both sides) was Rs 1.80 crore.

Similarly, the compensation amount for the land falling on one side of the Patiala Highway was Rs 1.65 crore. He said this was the non-litigation price offered to farmers.

He said farmers would have to give an undertaking that they were ready to accept the compensation amount after which cheques would be distributed to them in their respective villages.

Three days would be fixed for distributing cheques by GMADA officials in the six villages. This would not only help farmers save time of coming to GMADA office, but also help in the identification of farmers, who would be given cheques for the compensation amount.

He said farmers, who would purchase land elsewhere in the state after getting rich compensation amount, would be allowed to get their land registered free of cost. They would also be given a power connection for one tubewell on priority basis.

Mohali, February 24
There is good news for the successful applicants in the draw of lots for plots in Aerocity. The estate office of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has started dispatching letter of intent (LoI) to the successful applicants.

In the next 10 days, the estate office would dispatch around 4,200 LoIs to the successful applicants. Estate officer Balbir Singh said the beneficiaries under the Land Pooling Scheme, along with the general category applicants (200 sq yard), would be the first ones to get the allotment letters.

With the issuing of the letters, the successful applicants would have to deposit 15 per cent of the cost of the plot. In the general and reserved category, there are around 3,800 successful applicants. The estate office would also be issuing a public notice on the schedule of dispatching of the allotment letter.

Panchkula, February 24
A day after the Haryana Urban Development Authority’s anti-encroachment drive sparked violence in the Sector 7 market, the Vyapar Mandal, Panchkula called for the transfer of HUDA administrator Rajender Kataria and threatened shopkeepers in the district would go on an indefinite strike if its demand was not met.

Last night shopkeepers damaged a HUDA vehicle in the market after one of them accused an official of the authority of hitting him with an iron tool leaving his finger fractured. He claimed though Kataria was present at the scene the latter did not bother to take note of his subordinate’s action. Kataria, however, denied the allegation.

The police later filed a DDR against Kataria as well as the shopkeepers involved in the incident.

At a meeting held this morning in the Sector 7 market the Vyapar Mandal decided to submit a memorandum to the Haryana government seeking the transfer of Kataria, whom they have accused of ordering the seizure of goods lying inside a shop in the market.

“The incident was unusual in that such a highly placed official was present during the anti-encroachment drive”, Vyapar Mandal president Kuldeep Chitkara said after the meeting. “We decided to set up an 11-member committee to look into the issue of encroachment by shopkeepers and cooperate with HUDA officials in this matter”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Citizen Welfare Association has come into the open to support HUDA’s anti-encroachment drive. Condemning the encroachments by shopkeepers in the markets the association said all the verandas and walking-paths in the markets of town have been encroached upon by the shopkeepers and ‘phariwalas’.

Chandigarh, February 24
Dr SS Bhatti’s “Song of the Soul”, an anthology of 275 sonnets, published by Rose Dog Publishers of the USA, was released by Dr Sharda Kaushik, director, Regional Institute of English, at an impressive ceremony at their conference hall.

While lauding the author’s prolific poetic potential in sculpting the sonnets of profound literary standards, she said Dr Bhatti had been all along maintaining his tradition of excellence as an acclaimed architect, academician, critic, thinker, musicologist and above all a fine human. It is indeed difficult to designate him with a single epithet, she added.

The sonnets weaving delicate patterns of emotions carry meaning as well as music, observed student- scholar Simranjeet Singh, who read out an exhaustive paper on the book.

The inquisitive audience, including over 30 postgraduate students of English literature from Afghanistan, interacted with the author on life and literature.

Elucidating on the sources of his inspiration and architectonics of poetry, Dr Bhatti responded by saying that the Indian tradition lists 64 fine arts topped by poetry and followed by music, painting, sculpture and architecture. 

Chandigarh, February 24
Municipal Corporation Finance and Contract Committee approved 36 development agendas for various sectors at its first meeting held under the chairmanship of Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh here today.

The committee approved the agenda of depositing the lease money instalment of the Mango Garden, Sector 29, estimate for providing cascading water feature in Green Belt, Kajheri village, rough cost estimate (RCE) for providing and fixing 40mm thick paver blocks in shopping centre at Sector 47 C and D and RCE for the construction of walking tracks in various parks in Sector 37.

The committee also approved to issue licenses from 8 am to 5 pm to road-side “rehri” pullers. Renting out booths and cold storage for fish, meat and poultry products at Sector-41market.

The development of various parks, Mini Rose Garden and Green Belt, Sector 24 C and D, estimate for providing geometrical fountain at Green Belt, Sector 61.

Members also gave green signal for organisation of legal aid clinics in Chandigarh.

During the meeting nominated councillor Dr A P Sanwaria asked the MC authorities to take strict action against the illegal taxi stands located across the city.

He further said the defaulter cable operators in the city, who are not depositing their monthly rent due to the corporation, should be fined for causing huge financial loss.

Chandigarh, February 24
The post of the DPI (S) has come back to the Punjab cadre after about five years with the posting of PCS officer Sandeep Hans as the new DPI (S) by the Chandigarh Administration today.

The appointment of a PCS officer as the DPI (S) was expected following divesting of the Haryana cadre IAS officer and Home Secretary Ram Niwas of the education department and handing it over to Punjab cadre IAS officer and Finance Secretary VK Singh recently.

“The arrangement of same cadre officers holding the posts of DPI (S) and Education Secretary can result in better co-ordination in the backdrop of the ongoing controversy surrounding the implementation of the RTE Act,” the sources said.

The major reshuffle also saw distribution of work to the three officers, including one HCS and two PCS officers, who joined the administration recently. Ritu Chaudhary (HCS) gets the important charge of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) relieving Jasvinder Kaur of additional charge.

The departments held by Hans have been given to the PCS officer SS Khara, including Director Technical Education, Joint Secretary Finance, Joint Secretary Urban Planning, Joint Secretary Housing, Joint Secretary Engineering and Joint Secretary Technical Education.

While ML Sharma has been given the full-time charge of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, SDM (Central) and the Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, TPS Phoolka, Additional Commissioner, will be the new Divisional Manager of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU), earlier, held by Sharma.

The charge of Director Sports, earlier, held by ML Sharma, has been given to a new entrant in the administration Rahul Gupta, who will also hold the charges of controller, printing and stationery, Additional IG Prisons and Superintendent, Model Jail, besides, the Director Science and Technology.

Sunil Bhatia will be the new Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation.

Meanwhile, Jasvinder Kaur, who is the Additional Director, Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, will hold the additional charge of the director, Museum and Art Gallery, and project director, Beant Singh Memorial. Secretary of the CHB, MM Sabharwal will also look after the charges of the Joint Director Rural Development and Panchayat, Nodal Officer, State Agricultural Marketing Board and Joint Secretary, State Agricultural Marketing Board.

Chandigarh, February 24
Madhu Sharma, a senior dietician in the department of paediatrics, PGI, whose book “Therapeutic Paediatric Nutrition” was released here today said diet and diseases were closely related.

There were a number of diseases in childhood that needed dietary restrictions and alterations.

The book is a sequel to “Basic Paediatric Nutrition”, released by the PGI medical superintendent AK Gupta.

The book covers issues on dietary management and modifications in various childhood diseases.

Diseases that need dietary modifications or restrictions are malabsorptive conditions like celiac disease (wheat allergy), cystic fibrosis or inflammatory bowel disease and even constipation.

There is an increase in the number of children with Type II diabetes of childhood.

As with adults, along with insulin, management is based upon what and how much to eat.

The dose of insulin is in fact based on the dietary intake of a child.

They are allowed to eat as for a normal child of their age, but with limited carbohydrates.

How this balance needs to be struck is covered in the book, said Sharma.

Chandigarh, February 24
The Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) staged a protest at the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) to demand a six-month training for all branches of UIET and for removal of cap on marks in internal reappears.

Within minutes of the protest, UIET director Renu Vig brought the situation under control and asked students to get back to classes.

A majority of protestors comprising SOPU members said the demand for the six-month training was on the lines of IIT, BITS and PEC. “A six-month training programme will offer ample time and opportunity for the students to get practical knowledge of the industry, as compared to the six-week training, which is currently being practised,” said a student leader.

SOPU representatives submitted two different memorandums signed by about 1,200 UIET BE students to the director yesterday.

SOPU president Vikramjit Singh Medukheda and former PUCSC president Amit Bhatia made efforts to involve the students of the department in their protest today, most of who resumed classes after the director’s intervention.

SOPU members claimed that department officials have assured them of a serious consideration of the matter, although department teachers and non-teaching staff claimed that most of the protestors were not the students of UIET.

Certain students of Dr HSJ Institute of Dental Science and Hospital were also spotted at UIET for the protest.

“We have to guide students properly. We are working hard for them so that they become successful in their lives. Every teacher wants to protect their students like their children. Mutual trust between students and teachers is the way forward,” said Renu Vig.