NEIGHBOURHOOD

2 kids among four hurt in blast
Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, April 16
Additional principal secretary to Punjab Chief Minister Gagandeep Singh Brar yesterday paid a visit to grain markets of the town.

He took up the problems of farmers. He directed officials to immediately begin the wheat procurement.

He asked the district administrative officials to take care of loading and transportation of the produce.

As compared to last year’s 2.58-lakh metric tonne wheat crop, this year nearly 2.75-lakh metric tonne wheat is likely to be procured in grain markets.

Brar told managers of procurement agencies to pay farmers within 48 hours of the sale. He told officials to provide basic facilities to farmers, including drinking water and proper sitting arrangements.

Dera Bassi, April 16
Taking a note of The Tribune report, the bio-diesel plants (rattanjot), whose fruits made three children fall seriously ill on April 12, were today axed from the farmhouse. However, plants were still intact on the other side of the link road.

Three children of Aganpur village fell ill on April 12 after eating fruits and leaves from these plants. They were admitted in the GMCH, Chandigarh, in a serious condition.

Village sarpanch and the guardian of the children, Ramesh Kumar said the owner of the farmhouse had given his consent for axing all bio-diesel plants from his premises on the Lalru link road.

The sarpanch said these plants were posing danger to children and other people who were not aware about the dangerous results of its fruits. The farmhouse owner, Rajan Kansal, who had earlier stated that he was not aware about the dangerous results of these plants, today alleged that the children had consumed fruits from the plants of some other farmhouse.

These plants were grown under the scheme of the horticulture department. 

Kharar, April 16
Around 1,200 students were awarded degrees during the seventh annual convocation function of the Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC), Landran, here today.

Panjab University’s former Vice-Chancellor, Dr KN Pathak, Chandigarh, awarded degrees to students of engineering, MCA, MBA, PGDM, BCA, hotel management, airlines and tourism, pharmacy, biotechnology and BEd.

Dr Pathak called upon the students to rise above all kinds of scams and serve society selflessly.

Dr GD Bansal, director general, CGC, presented the annual report of the institution. Colourful programmes, including bhangra, songs, giddha, etc, were also presented to mark the occasion. — TNS

‘Values lack among the educated’
Tribune News Service

Ropar, April 16
A two-day national seminar on moral and ethical values for professionals started at IET, Bhaddal, here yesterday.

Chief guest Bibi Dr Inderjit Kaur, chairperson, Pingalwara Society, said deficiency of human values was found more among the educated. “People lay emphasis on having education, but fail to imbibe principles of education in their persona,” she added.

The social science department of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bhaddal, is conducting this conference in collaboration with the Punjab Technical University.

Dr Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, SSP intelligence crime branch, said Indians were known for their values, but with the interference of British in the education system, we got poorer. This is why our young generation is facing trouble.

HR Singla, director general, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, said a human being was incomplete without values. He said in the race of discrimination, human beings had forgotten their own self.

Dr AP Singh, Dean, students’ affairs, PTU, Jalandhar, said university would add human values and professional ethics as a compulsory subject in its curriculum from the next session.

Director principal IET, Bhaddal, Dr HR Verma welcomed the guests.

Chandigarh, April 16
Just about a month after the Supreme Court quashed the appointment of PJ Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner, the Punjab and Haryana High Court quoted his case to rule that a candidate’s name cannot be recommended for appointment to a higher post once a vigilance inquiry has been initiated against him.

The ruling by Justice MM Kumar and Justice TPS Mann came on a petition by Surender Singh Taxak against the Food Corporation of India and other respondents.

He had challenged a Single Judge’s judgment dated March 14. The Judge had held “once vigilance inquiry is pending against the appellant, he cannot be granted a no-objection certificate and his application cannot be forwarded for consideration of his name for appointment to the post of Deputy General Manager, which is to be filled by direct recruitment”.

The Bench ruled: “The pendency of a criminal case was considered sufficient for quashing the appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner in a recent judgment rendered in the case of Centre for PIL and another versus Union of India and others.

“The Supreme Court set aside the appointment of PJ Thomas as Chief Vigilance Commissioner because criminal prosecution under Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, read with Section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code was pending against him in the Court of Special Judge, Thiruvanathapuram.

“Once a vigilance inquiry has been initiated against a government employee, as is the situation in the present case, it is a far cry to expect that the name of such a delinquent employee would be recommended for appointment by way of direct recruitment to a higher post”.

Turning down the appeal, the Bench ruled: “The condition of issuance of a no-objection certificate and verification of antecedents of the aspirant for a new post from the former employer cannot be regarded as arbitrary because it helps in assessment of suitability and fitness of the candidate for the post to be offered to him…

“The sanctity of public service is required to be maintained by ensuring that persons with doubtful integrity do not enter the portals of public office. The condition incorporated in the application form requiring the appellant to submit a no-objection certificate along with a declaration from the present employer that the appellant is not involved in any vigilance/ departmental inquiry are mandatory conditions in order to secure the basic object of allowing the persons with clean antecedents to enter service”.

Panchkula, April 16
The special court here today deferred the hearing in connection with the Samjhauta blasts case till April 30 as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) once again failed to produce Swami Aseemanand, accused in a number of terror incidents involving right-wing Hindu outfits.

NIA special judge Subhash Mehla, after going through the documents moved by the NIA, issued fresh production warrants against Swami Aseemanand after the NIA officials moved an application before the court stating that at present Swami Aseemanand was in the judicial custody in Ajmer jail in connection with Ajmer blasts case.

SK Sood, NIA special public prosecutor, said the court had again issued production warrants of Swami Aseemanand for April 30 and after completion of Aseemanand’s judicial remand in Ajmer blasts, the NIA would produce him before the local court on the next date of hearing.

The court had also issued non-bailable warrants of three key suspects of Samjhauta blasts case, including Ramchandra Kalsangra, alias Ramji, alias Vishnu Patel, Ashwini Chauhan, alias Ashok, alias Prince, alias Amit and Sandeep Dange, alias Parmanand.

Panchkula, April 16
The police arrested two snatchers who were involved in a purse snatching case at Sector 14 here late last night.

The two accused, who have been identified as Shahil, a resident of Kurhari village, Hardoi district (UP) and Mahesh, a resident of Dev Ramau village, Unav district (UP), were in the local court today, which remanded them in police custody.

A case was registered in the Sector 14 police station under Sections 356 and 379 of the IPC. The police also recovered the snatched purse, important documents, Rs 250 and a Pulsar motorcycle (HR-03F-1855).

Further investigation in the case was on and the police was hopeful that it could lead to reveal some important facts about the cases.

In another case of snatching, registered on April 9 under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC in the Sector 5 police station, the police arrested two accused in a snatching case.

The accused have been identified as Veera, alias Bhira, and Manga, both residents of Gate No. 3, old Panchkula. The two were produced in the court, which sent Manga to judicial custody whereas Veera was sent to police custody for further investigation in the case.

Chandigarh, April 16
A 60-year-old man was killed after being hit by a speeding Zen car near the Sectors 37, 38, 40 and 41 roundabout here today.

The police arrested a woman, Monika, who was driving the car, in a case of causing death due to negligence under Section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code.

She was later released on bail.

The mishap took place when the Zen car (PB-08-BH-0232) being driven by Monika hit a pedestrian, Soni Lal, who was crossing the road.

A resident of Sector 38 and haling from Bihar, Soni Lal received grievous head injuries.

He was taken to the PGI by the woman in her car. However, he was declared brought dead there.

The accused was employed as an assistant manager in Punjab Land Mortgage Bank and was a resident of Parvati Enclave in Sector 49 here.

Panchkula, April 16
The police has registered an FIR against an NRI and four middlemen for cheating on the complaint of a girl and her parents.

Rupinder Kaur (30), a resident of Mani Majra, had lodged a complaint with the Panchkula police alleging that she had tied the knot with Canada-based NRI Gurpreet Singh Gill on December 30, 2009, at a gurdwara in Bhainsa Tibba village in Panchkula. Thereafter they went to Chandigarh for registration of their marriage, but due to the absence of required papers, their marriage could not be registered.

Rupinder alleged that later Gurpreet Singh Gill left for Canada and never returned to take her with him. She had lodged complaint with the women cell of the Panchkula police in November last year. During investigation, the NRI failed to appear before the women cell and thereafter it forwarded the complaint to the police for registration of an FIR.

The police today finally registered an FIR in the Mansa Devi police station against Gurpreet Singh Gill and middlemen Malkit Singh, Gurmel Singh, Mohan Lal and Sarabjit Kaur under various sections of the IPC.

Panchkula, April 16
A fine bowling spell by Sarang (four for 18 runs) enabled Airtel XI to defeat ICICI Bank XI in a league match of the IXth Bharat Kesho Gupta Memorial Cricket Tournament being held at the Cricket Stadium, Sector 3, here today.

Godrej CC topped the table with eight points from their six matches in the league phase of the tournament, which ended with today’s match. Airtel XI also gathered eight points and came in second due to a lesser net run rate. Infosys XI notched up a win today for their six points. DCM Engineering XI picked up four points with two wins, while Aircel XI and ICICI Bank XI finished with two points each.

In a match between Airtel XI and ICICI Bank XI, Airtel XI won the toss and batted first. After the quick departure of the first wicket, Anuj Sharma and Mohit Prasher put together a 70-run partnership for the second wicket. There were as many as 30 extras in the Airtel XI innings. Mohit scored 40 runs off 31 deliveries and was unfortunate to fall to a run out in the 12th over. Sarang top scored with 45 runs and remained unbeaten. Airtel XI managed to score 173 runs off their 20 overs. In reply, both Baljit Kalsi and Gourav gave ICICI Bank XI a fine start, as they put up an opening stand of 63 runs off eight overs. Both batsmen seemed set to take the match away from Airtel XI with some fine stroke play and sensible batting. Baljit, who emerged as the top scorer, scored 32 runs off 29 deliveries. The introduction of Sarang proved to be the turning point of the match, as he got rid of both batsmen in his first over. Thereafter, none of the batsmen could hold the wicket and ICICI Bank XI finished short of the target by 31 runs.

In the second match of the day, Godrej CC defeated DCM Engineering XI by 21 runs. Charanjeet scored a fine half-century for Godrej to help the team post a total of 129 runs on board for the loss of six wickets. In reply, DCM Engineering XI batsmen failed to find a foothold on the crease, as the bowlers put up a united front to skittle the run flow.

Brief scores:

Match I

Airtel XI: 173 for 5 in 20 overs (Sarang 45 not out, Mohit Prashar 40, Anuj Sharma 31).

ICICI Bank XI: 142 for 8 in 20 overs (Baljit Kalsi 32, Vicky Karod 30; Sarang 4 for 18, Devan 2 for 13).

Match II

Godrej CC: 129 for 6 in 20 overs (Charanjeet 51, Jai Kapila 21; Satyam 2 for 19). DCM Engg XI: 108 for 8 in 20 overs (Aneesh 25; Kulwinder Rambo 1 for 9, Naresh Dhingra 1 for 19).

Match III Aircel XI: 91 all out in 16.1 overs (Vijay Wadhawan 39; Rahul Purohit 2 for 34, Gourav 2 for 14). Infosys XI: 94 for 1 in 12.4 overs (Parmod Rawat 45, Sahil Seth 39; Rishi Kohli 1 for 30). Tomorrow’s semifinal fixture:

Godrej CC shall take on Infosys XI and Airtel XI will be playing DCM Engineering XI.

Chandigarh, April 16
Top seed Vishnu Vardhan emerged victorious in the Union Bank ITF Men’s Futures US$-10,000 Tennis Tournament defeating second seed Yuki Bhambri in three sets 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the final held at CLTA here today.

It was a double delight for top seed Vishnu Vardhan as he had won the doubles title in company of Divij Saran yesterday.

Struggling under scorching sun and humid conditions, Vishnu and Bhambri battled it out for two and half hours, matching each other stroke by stroke. In the first set, Yuki Bhambri looked more fresh as he had two easy walkovers in the quarterfinal and semifinal, while Vishnu had to battle it out to earn a place in the final and it clearly showed in the first set.

Vishnu could not get his serve going in the first set and Bhambri passed him on many occasions, forcing him to make unforced errors. Bhambri was in his elements in first set and wrapped the first set 6-4.

Vishnu regained his composure in the second set and his serve also got him many winners. Midway through the second set, Bhambri seemed to lose his pace and composure and Vishnu took full advantage of the same and won the second set 7-5.

In the final set, Vishnu had full sway over the proceedings and forced Bhambri into many unforced errors. Vishnu ’s stinging serve paid him rich dividends and Bhambri finally succumbed to pressure and lost the set rather tamely at 6-3.

Chief guest VK Singh, Finance and Sports Secretary, UT administration, gave away the winners and runners-up trophies besides releasing the association’s souvenir.

He also lauded the efforts of the CLTA for the successful conduct of the tournament and also complimented them for the tennis activities being undertaken at the tennis stadium.

Men’s singles results: Vishnu Vardhan b Yuki Bhambri 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Chandigarh, April 16
Fine bowling spell by Porush Aggarwal (four for 27) helped the Chandigarh Cricket Association (CCA) XI got the better of APJ Kharar XI by three wickets in a close encounter of the APJ League Cricket Tournament on GMSSS-19 grounds here today.

After winning the toss, the APJ team decided to bat first. The team was coasting at one stage with 90 runs on the board for the loss of one wicket. Thereafter, a fine spell of bowling by left arm spinner, Porush (four for 27 runs) put brakes on the scoring and in the end the APJ team succumbed under pressure and were bowled out for 150 runs in 37.2 with 2.4 overs to spare. Vidush Arora (43 runs) and Sarthak (34 runs) were the main contributors.

Chasing the victory target of 151 runs, the CCA team were put on the track by a fine opening partnership of 60 runs between Hemant Singh (41) and Abhimanyu (20). But once both of them departed, the wickets kept on falling at regular intervals and in the end, it required a cameo by Karan Brar (26 not out) to chase down the total with four balls to spare. For the APJ team, Sarthak and Sidhanth picked up two wickets each.

Brief scores: APJ XI: 150 all out in 37.2 overs: (Vidush 43, Sarthak 34; Porush 4 for 27, Khushpal 2 for 20 runs).

CCA XI: 151 for 7 in 39.4 overs: (Hemant Singh 41, Karan Brar 26 n.o.; Sidhanth 2 for 18, Sarthak 2 for 26).

Next fixture: A match between CCA XI and Coaching Centre-19 would be played on April 20 at 8.30 am.

Chandigarh, April 16
City golfer Harendra P Gupta fired the best card of the day to occupy the tied second slot on the penultimate day of the Nepalese Rs 4 million Surya Nepal Masters on the par-72 greens of the Gokama Resort Golf Club, Kathmandu, today.

Harendra trailed Delhi’s Rashid Khan by two strokes, as the battle for honours grew intense with the contest entering the final round. Twenty-year-old Rashid Khan shot a two-under 70 for a three-day tally of 14 under 202.

Breathing down his neck barely two strokes behind at 204 are Harendra Gupta and Mandeo Singh Pathania and Sri Lankan Mithun Pereira.