Recusal from Virk Case
Government told to give reason in writing
Chandigarh, March 29
The State of Punjab today found itself in a tricky position after Justice Ranjit Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked its counsel to give in writing the reason why it wanted him to recuse from hearing the state former Director-General of Police (DGP) SS Virk case.

Moga, March 29
Having failed to allot Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) vends due to the “lacklustre” attitude of contractors at Moga, Amritsar, Phagwara, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr, the Excise and Taxation Department has today decided to call open tenders to auction vacant liquor vends.

Confirming this, A Venu Prasad, Commissioner of the Excise and Taxation Department, said the department would advertise a tender notice this week. “We have decided to call tenders giving a two-day time by fixing separate reserve prices of vends for these towns, ” he said.

He said there were reports that the contractors had suffered losses in these towns during the current financial year, following which they had not shown much interest in getting vends on increased prices.

During the current year, the state has collected a revenue of Rs 2,500 crore and in the coming financial year, it has been fixed for Rs 3,200 crore.

In reply to a question, Prasad said the open tenders in the five towns would not affect the total revenue collection. “It can even fetch more revenue for the state”, he said.

Meanwhile, SJS Beesla, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner (Ferozepur division), said applications for the allotment of liquor vends in Moga were invited on March 21 and March 25, but no one had shown interest. Again, the same were invited on March 28, but only six were received against the 20 IMFL vends. Therefore, the department was forced to cancel the process of the allotment of vends in the town, he added.

However, he claimed that in Baghapurana, the department had managed to fetch increased revenue of Rs 36 lakh by allotting five vends. In the current financial year, vends of this town were allotted at Rs 3.64 crore, but for the next year, the same have been allotted for Rs 4 crore.

According to details, the government had fixed a target of Rs 24 crore from the auction of 20 vends in Moga for the next financial year as against Rs 17.80 crore for the current financial year.

Last year, each vend in the town was allotted at Rs 89 lakh, but for this year, the minimum price was hiked to Rs 1.20 crore for each vend, which forced the existing contractors to turn away from the business.

Bathinda, March 29
Three employees of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) have alleged third-degree torture by the staff of the Crime Investigating Agency (CIA), Bathinda police.

Showing blue marks on their bodies, Paramjeet Singh (cashier), Jagtar Singh (fitter mechanic) and Sukhdev Singh (watchman), whom the police had detained on March 26 over a theft of cash worth Rs 14 lakh from the chest room of the PRTC’s Bathinda depot, today accused the CIA staff of of administering them electric shocks, assaulting them and forcing them to consume opium in custody for two consecutive days (Sunday and Monday) and releasing them on Monday evening after finding out that they were not involved in the crime.

“They kept forcing me to admit to the crime (theft) that I had not committed. And when I refused, they beat me. It continued till I fainted. When I regained my senses, I was given electric shocks after putting some iron clips on my ears. I had lost the hope that they would release me before I was dead,” rued Sukhdev Singh.

Showing blue marks on his thighs, Paramjeet Singh alleged: “I told the cops that I was unaware about the theft but they did not agree. The cops, who were in an inebriated condition, made me stretch my legs. They placed a heavy wooden log over my legs and made four persons stand over it. I was also given electric shocks.”

Jagtar Singh, who was unable to stand on his legs, also narrated the same tale of police torture inflicted upon him. “After beating me up, they used to rub some ointment on my legs, apparently to avoid the injury marks.”

The trio blamed ASP (City) Bikram Singh Bhatti for the torture stating that everything was done on his directions and in his presence. They also accused the general manager of the Bathinda depot of the PRTC, Iqbal Singh, of attempting to implicate the crime.

The state president of the PRTC Workers’ Union (AITUC), Pritam Singh, said some more PRTC employees were still in the illegal detention of the police.

“We will knock the door of the court to get justice against the illegal custody and the third-degree torture given to our members,” he said.

Feigning ignorance about the matter, district police chief Sukhchain Singh Gill said: “As of now, nobody has lodged any complaint with me. If somebody lodges a formal complaint with me, I will verify the facts.”

Chandigarh, March 29
The Cabinet today deferred its decision to allow turning Khalsa College, Amritsar, into a private university. The issue came up on the agenda, but was put off. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal supported the view that as there were two opinions on the issue, final decision could be taken only after a second look.

A senior Cabinet minister said the issue was raised by Panchayat Minister Ranjit Singh Brhampura, who said the college had a considerable contribution in educating poor children. He further suggested that since Khalsa College had about 300 acres of land, a private university could be built on 75 acres taken from the college itself.

Most Cabinet ministers supported the argument and said the government should not hurry up with any decision on the issue as public sentiments are attached with the institution. It was further suggested that the government should work towards attaining a heritage status for the college.

Though, the Cabinet has put off the issue for the time being, some Cabinet ministers told The Tribune that the matter had been shelved and was unlikely to come up again. They said it appeared that since there was no objection to setting up of a private university in the vicinity of the college, it was likely that some land from the college would be taken to set up a new institution.

Meanwhile, in yet another significant decision the Cabinet approved Rs 46 crore for the liquidators of Jagraon and Budladha Cooperative Sugar Mills. Further, it also approved a voluntary retirement scheme for the permanent employees of the closed cooperative sugar mills of Patiala, Tarn Taran, Faridkot, Jagraon and Zira. Four cooperative sugar mills and three distilleries at Gurdaspur, Nakodar and Nawan Shahr would be revived under the built, operate, own and transfer (BOOT) basis.

The Cabinet also slashed VAT on truck and bus body fabrication from 12.5 to 5 per cent. Further, it has announced setting up of a state commission for protection of child rights.

The Cabinet also approved increase in purchase tax paddy and Wheat from 4 to 5 per cent. To improve health services, the Cabinet ha allowed direct recruitment of medical officers (general, specialists, dental) and homoeopathic officers in the Health Department through a selection committee under the chairmanship of retired director of the PGI, Chandigarh, after a written test.

The Cabinet also gave nod to implement a city transport project in Amritsar and Ludhiana. It also decided that no new permit would be issued for auto rickshaws in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana cities except for LPG/CNG-based autos. The scheme will also be extended to Bathinda. 

Chandigarh, March 29
The State of Punjab today found itself in a tricky position after Justice Ranjit Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked its counsel to give in writing the reason why it wanted him to recuse from hearing the state former Director-General of Police (DGP) SS Virk case.

The former top cop is seeking the quashing of an FIR registered against him in a corruption case in September 8, 2007. He has been accused of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. As the case came up for hearing this morning before Justice Ranjit Singh, state Additional Advocate-General Rupinder Khosla raised verbal objections to the case being heard by the Bench of Justice Ranjit Singh.

Refusing to take note of the verbal assertion, Justice Ranjit Singh, in his one line order, observed: “Rupinder Khosla objects to the case being heard by this Bench. He is asked to file an affidavit in regard to the objection.”

Justice Ranjit Singh also gave the state a day’s time to do the needful by fixing the case for March 30 for further hearing. The state, in December 2008, also had made an attempt to compel Justice Ranjit Singh to recuse himself in another case. However, the move had boomeranged.

Justice Ranjit Singh not only saw it as a crude attempt to prevent him from performing his constitutional duties, but also made it clear he would not allow anyone to browbeat him.

The case pertained to the purchase of equipment by the intelligence wing of the Punjab Police during Virk’s tenure.

Justice Ranjit Singh had asserted: “Such an attempt on part of the state will not refrain me from performing my duties assigned to me under the Constitution.” The conduct had not only culminated in the issuance of a notice to an under-secretary in the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, but also passing of strictures against the state and its functionaries. The state had later received some relief in the matter from the apex court. 

Amritsar, March 29
Turning a blind eye to pleas made by various outfits, the meeting of the five Sikh high priests held here today did not discuss the issue of SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar taking a U-turn on the Khalsa College controversy.

Various outfits like Khalsa Action Committee, Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Panthic Council and the SAD (1920) had urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to initiate action against Makkar for backtracking from a resolution passed in the SGPC House during the budget session on March 24.

The resolution had sought maintaining status quo at the Khalsa College. Dal Khalsa had also released a video footage of Makkar reading out the resolution and the SGPC House passing it. Makkar was also shown addressing the electronic media immediately after the session.

However, after the meeting, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said the matter didn’t feature in the meeting as they had various key issues on the agenda. The Sikh high priests announced “tankha” (punishment for religious misconduct) for two SGPC members for different reasons. They pronounced 15-day “tankha” for SGPC member Navtej Singh Kauni for reportedly attending an event of Dera Sacha Sauda while Sukhwant Singh, another SGPC member, got seven-day “tankha” for organising an Akhand Path at an “objectionable place”.

Responding to the complaints about Guru Granth Sahib being kept in some Delhi temples against “maryada”, the meeting issued directions to the DSGMC to identify these temples and bring back the copies of Guru Granth Sahib if they notice any sacrilege.

Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh said it was unfortunate that the high priests didn’t discuss major issues like Khalsa College and Makkar’s retreat over 
the resolution while choosing to dwell on less important issues. 

Amritsar, March 29
Switching over to damage control mode, the Khalsa College governing council headed by president Satyajit Singh Majithia today said coming up of Khalsa University does not mean that Khalsa College would going to lose its existence.

This is for the second time in less than a fortnight that the governing council has come out in open to dispel the apprehensions surrounding the proposed conversion of the historic college into a private university. Majithia clarified: “The college will not lose its existence. It will continue to have its affiliation with Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, till the completion of the present classes, and then with Khalsa University, Amritsar.” According to him, the Khalsa College Society is not a family affair, but is a statutory body functioning democratically under its constitution.

“It has 100 members in the governing council, who elect the managing committee consisting of 28 members. The president of the society is elected through a democratic process for a period of five years. Therefore, there should not be any fear among people that after being elevated into a university, assets of the college will become the property of any individual, Majithia family or the Badal family,” he averred. Majithia alleged that the ongoing controversy and unwarranted situation has been created by “a handful of teachers who know that with the establishment of Khalsa University they will have to devote more time in the campus and work harder in the area of teaching and research”.

He said the affiliation of Khalsa College with the GND University was posing hindrance in the growth of the institution and causing limitations in the promotion of education in terms of introducing latest national and international courses in collaboration with the noted varsities across the globe. “At present, students pursue BA or MA courses, but have no employment opportunities. We want to introduce professional courses that will help them either get a job or start their own business.”

Meanwhile, the governing council passed Rs 59.65 crore annual budget of the institutions being run by the Khalsa College Society. These institutions have achieved a turnover of Rs 78 crore in the current fiscal while the projected turnover for the next fiscal has been pegged at Rs 105 crore. The council has set aside Rs 27 crore for the proposed Khalsa University in the budget.

Ferozeshah, March 29
The four battles, which the Sikhs fought with the East India Company army at Ferozeshah, Moodkee, Sobraon and Chellianwala in quick succession, were known for the exemplary bravery shown by the Sikhs.

The valour shown by Sikh soldiers of the Khalsa army under odd, inhospitable and unfavourable circumstances during these battles got them huge appreciation and recognition from the then officers of the British army.

However, what has disappointed people across Punjab is the fact that the authorities have failed to trace two pistols, which were used during an Anglo-Sikh war and were stolen from the local museum, a few years ago.

The Punjab government established a museum, in connection with the relics of the Anglo-Sikh war, on the bank of Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder canals. A large number of hand-held weapons, including swords, fire arms, muskets and other war gear, have been preserved in the museum for posterity.

A criminal case was registered against Pritam Singh, Balwinder Singh, residents of Faridkot and Moga districts respectively in Ghal Khurd police station on June 4, 2006, in connection with the theft of two pistols, on the written complaint of the then director, cultural affairs, Punjab.

A challan in connection with this case was presented in a Ferozepur court on December 20, 2007, against Pritam, Balwinder, Bikkar Singh, Balbir Singh and Jagsir Singh by police authorities.

Though these accused were still being tried in the court of law, the authorities could not recover the pistols, used in the Anglo-Sikh war.

No senior functionary of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Punjab, could be contacted for their comments despite repeated efforts, SSP, Ferozepur, Kaustab Sharma, said he would check the status of the case first.

A senior official of the Punjab Government while pleading anonymity said the functionaries of the Department of Cultural Affairs had shown little interest in the case and hence recovery of relics could not be made. 

Jalandhar, March 29
A recently released report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has exposed a scam in which the state health authorities allegedly doled out the Centre’s grant to a private surveying firm, which allegedly fudged a report of the required and available infrastructure at health centres across the state.

The Central Government, under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), had released Rs 1.70 crore to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, to conduct a “facility survey” so as to assess lack of basic structure and human resources at health centres across the state.

The survey was a pre-requisite for the proper implementation of the mission, as the Centre had directed that a need-based action plan should be prepared at the district level on the basis of the survey inferences.

Quoting the CAG report, Dr DC Sharma, president of Docsfed and general secretary of the PCMS-I, said the Centre had released an amount of Rs 1.70 crore to the state Health Department for a survey in March 2006. The department further transferred the amount to Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) in July 2006.

The report further revealed that the PHSC, after nearly one year, in turn engaged a private firm in May 2007, which submitted its report in December 2007.

However, during the audit process of the NRHM when the CAG sought the details of the data collected on the basis of which the results were prepared, the firm failed to produce the same, he added.

Alleging that the survey was either never conducted or a false report was submitted with the connivance of senior officials of the department, Sharma demanded that a probe into the scam should be handed over to the CBI as the entire grant for the survey was provided by the Centre.

Chandigarh, March 29
The office of the Director, Research and Medical Education (DRME), has recommended the chargesheeting of the former Chairman as well as Member-Secretary of the Punjab State Faculty of Ayurvedic and Unani System of Medicine for failing to collect inspection fee of Rs 1 lakh from 29 private colleges seeking to start courses in DPharmacy.

The recommendation was made last week after the Unani System Faculty Member-Secretary had in his report to the department recommended action against former Chairman Ashwani Sharma and former Member-Secretary Sharadindu Sharma. Both were accused of negligence for failing to collect the inspection fee due from private institutions during their nearly two-year tenure starting from mid-2008.

According to the rules framed in 2005, all private institutions applying for the DPharmacy (up-vaid) course have to apply for a no-objection certificate to the Unani Faculty for which they have to deposit a fee of Rs 1 lakh. After acquiring the NOC, the institutions are required to submit an inspection fee of Rs 1 lakh to get affiliated to the Unani Faculty. Institutions also have to deposit a fee of Rs 10,000 every year to renew their affiliation. Despite such instructions, both the former faculty members charged only Rs 10,000 inspection fee from 29 colleges who applied for affiliation. This resulted in a loss of around Rs 27 lakh to the state exchequer.

After the irregularity was pointed out in 2010, all 29 private colleges had been directed to submit the balance amount of Rs 90,000 to the faculty failing which their students would not be allowed to sit in the examinations. Subsequently some colleges submitted the money due from them.

Dr Ashwani Kumar and Dr Sharadindu Sharma, who are at present working at Government Ayurveda College in Patiala, when contacted on the issue said earlier the inspection fee was only Rs 10,000 and that they were not aware that it had changed. “It is only later that we came to know that a sum of Rs 1 lakh was to be charged from the colleges”, they said. The doctors also claimed that once the issue was highlighted most institutions had come forward to deposit the remaining sum due from them. 

Patiala, March 29
With India and Pakistan all set for the high-voltage semifinal of the cricket World Cup at Mohali tomorrow, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is unlikely to impose power cuts during the match hours in the state.

According to senior functionaries, the state government has not issued any specific instructions to the power corporation for not imposing power cuts during the match, but the PSPCL would try that there was no interruption.

CMD (PSPCL) KD Chaudhri said: “At present, the gap between the demand and supply of power is less and the PSPCL is not imposing any major power cuts in the state even during the routine days. Hence going by the current figures of demand and supply, we hope that there will be no power cuts during the match.”

Meanwhile, as far as power supply arrangements at the PCA Stadium, Mohali, are concerned, two feeders are already there to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. 

Patiala, March 29
Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dipinder Singh has announced District Credit Plan of Rs 5,032.82 crore for 2011-12, which is Rs 841.54 crore more than the last fiscal year. The plan has been prepared by the State Bank of Patiala with active participation of the Reserve Bank of India, NABARD, other banks and government agencies.

Giving details, the DC stated that the plan envisages a target of Rs 3,407.15 crore for agriculture and allied sectors, Rs 372.34 crore for non-farm sector and Rs 1,253.33 crore for other priority sectors. He further informed that till January 31, 2011, as many as 1,374 self-help groups had been constituted and loans from various banks had been provided to them for the self-employment purposes. He further said efforts would be made for creation of more self-help groups.

Dipinder also stated that the credit plan would strengthen the economy of the district. He also appreciated the efforts being put in by the banks, NABARD and other government agencies for undertaking various developmental and promotional schemes for overall growth of the rural sector. The DC exhorted the banks and agencies to make concerted efforts for more provision of investment credit to rural masses and the BPL families in order to ensure that more and more people could start their own businesses.

Malerkotla, March 29
Sufi saints do not belong to a particular community. If one goes by the rush of people at the shrine of saint Baba Haidar Sheikh, nearly 80 to 90 per cent of the devotees are Sikhs and Hindus.

Malerkotla was founded in 1600 by the same saint. It is believed that that it was due to the shrine that Malerkotla did not witness any violence during Partition when other parts of the state witnessed communal clashes.

Ahmed Ali, a sweet shop owner who sells ‘prasad’ to devotees coming to the shrine, says: “The shrine witnesses a huge rush of non-Muslims throughout the year. Of the total number of devotees, 90 per cent are non-Muslims, which shows that Baba Ji didn’t belong to a particular community and is the epitome of communal harmony.

The rush is maximum on every Thursday in May-June every year and people from Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi come here to pay obeisance. The Urs (annual congregation) is held here on the 13th day of Islamic month of Ramzaan and lakhs of people attend that function.”

Surjeet Singh, a devotee, said: “I have a special attachment to the shrine. Baba Ji always taught peace and was a symbol of communal harmony.”

PWD Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said that: “Sufi saint is the epitome of peace and communal harmony and is loved by all people irrespective of religion”.

Sangrur, March 29
Having felt the pain of family members suffering or dying due to drug abuse has brought their kin to join the fight against the menace.

Belonging to Sangrur and nearby areas, these people are working towards spreading awareness against the evil. They are also working with the police and other departments concerned in identifying those selling medical drugs.

Some of them have also joined Baba Banda Singh Bahadur International (BBSBIF), an NGO working against drug abuse.

One such person is Jagdeep Singh of Gujran village near Dirba, who lost his brother Kuldeep Singh (27) in 1994 because of drug abuse. The brothers had come to Sangrur and had opened a PCO and a photostat shop.Kuldeep Singh who was already an alcoholic got addicted to medicines, says Jagdeep. He left behind wife and two children.

“After my brother’s death I always had a deep seated hatred against drug abuse. I always talked to people about the death and devastation that drugs can cause and ruin families. I even beat up some youth whom I caught taking drugs,” says Jagdeep.

“I was looking for a platform to fight drug abuse and found it in May last year when Baba Banda Singh Bahadur International Foundation waged a war against drug abuse in Punjab. We identify potential drug sellers and pass on the information to the police as well as drug inspectors of the particular area. We also hold seminars to make people aware of the bad effects of drug abuse,” he says. He claimed because of their efforts, a sizeable number of drug sellers have wound up their business.

Sukhbir Singh, Chief Patron of the BBSBIF for Sangrur, confirmed that several persons who lost their kin because of drug abuse have joined in the efforts of the foundation to fight drug menace. 

Fatehgarh Sahib, March 29
Manpreet Singh Badal is just a whirlwind with disgruntled people from the SAD and the Congress who failed to get plum political posts. This was stated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at the first meeting of the Fourth Centenary Memorial Trust of Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib. Trust president Avtar Singh Makkar also presided over the meeting. Badal pointed out that politics of principles had taken a backseat and now self-centred and selfish people had entered in this field.

“Those who failed to get posts of chairmen of different boards and the tickets to contest elections are joining Manpreet and not the ardent followers. Those who failed to perform and keep on hopping from one party to another will not be able to harm us in anyway,” he said. On Manpreet’s party agenda, the Chief Minister said implementing an agenda was a slippery task.

Badal later unveiled logo and anthem of Guru Granth Sahib World University.

First session of the university would commence from July. The CM appreciated move of 10 per cent reservation of seats for the students of economically weaker section. There will be 15 departments for 30 postgraduate courses, including world religions, cultures and civilisations, basic sciences, emerging technologies, social sciences, arts and humanities besides religion. The SGPC has given 84 acres to setup the university. There will also be a separate department of Sikh historiography. The university will also introduce online distance education programme.

Chandigarh, March 29
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today condemned the State of Punjab for discriminating between two sets of convicts.

The censure came after two convicts in a rape and murder case - Jugraj Singh and Partap Singh - were release prematurely, while the case for premature release of co-convict Gurpreet Singh was turned down by the state.

Justice Gurdev Singh asserted: “The state government was not expected to make such like discrimination and violate the very basic principle enshrined in the Constitution regarding equality”.

Justice Gurdev Singh asserted: “The petitioner was better placed as compared to those accused. The respondents - the State of Punjab and Barnala District Magistrate - having given the benefit of premature release to those accused, could not have denied the same benefits to the present petitioner unless his case was not covered by the policy (on premature release) or he was to be refused the relief on the ground mentioned in the policy itself.”

“It is not the case of the respondents that the conduct of this petitioner in the jail was not good or that his case was rejected on the ground that there is likelihood of his committing crime or breach of peace”.

Convicted under Sections 302, 376 (2) (g), 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, Gurpreet was sentenced to life imprisonment. The FIR in his case was registered at police station Mehal Kilan on August 3, 1997.

After the dismissal of his appeal, he had moved the high court seeking quashing of order dated November 12, 2010, vide which “it was held he was not entitled to be released prematurely”.

Challenging the order in the petition placed before Justice Gurdev Singh, Gurpreet Singh asserted as per the policy of July 8, 1991, he was entitled to premature release after having undergone 12 years of actual sentence.

He had added the other two, convicted by the same judgment, had already been released prematurely.

Allowing the petition, Justice Gurdev Singh quashed the order dated November 12, 2010, and directed his release in accordance with the policy.

Barnala DM in contempt loop

The Barnala District Magistrate has landed himself in the contempt loop in the premature release matter.

He has ben asked by the high court to file a detailed reply admitting or denying each and every fact stated in the petition on discrimination.

Justice Gurdev Singh observed: “In spite of the fact that notice was duly served on the respondent, he has not presented himself. His non-appearance itself is a ground for coming to the conclusion that he has nothing to say about the show cause notice earlier issued to him.

“As such, contempt proceedings are to be initiated against him for not complying with the orders of this court,” Justice Gurdev Singh asserted, while fixing April 21 as the next date of hearing.