Amritsar, June 7
Three women employed as support staff with mid-day meal workers were suspended about a month ago for alleged negligence in preparing and serving food to students.

Posted at Government Primary School in Bhalla village, Ajnala, the trio, Gurmeet Kaur, Ranjit Kaur and Gogi, maintained that they were suspended “arbitrarily” and approached the Mulazim Manch of Punjab and Chandigarh recently.

Village sarpanch Baljit Singh and school committee chairman Hardool Singh maintained that their services were terminated on May 2 over alleged negligence in cooking and serving mid-day meals.

Baljit Singh said: “I only know that the three were issued several warnings as they used to send schoolchildren on petty jobs at the cost of their studies.”

Hardool Singh alleged that the three workers were deficient in service and never paid heed to the warnings. “This particular incident is being projected as a mere excuse by them to hide their faults.”

However, the suspended trio have another tale to tell. They allege that Ranjit Kaur had, about two months ago during a school function, dropped a plate of sweets after losing her balance. The sweets were meant for chief guest MLA Amarpal Singh Boni. The incident, they say, infuriated the school committee and the sarpanch and all three of them had to face the wrath.

Boni confirmed that a plate of sweets fell on the ground while being served to him, but showed his ignorance about the repercussions thereafter.

Jarmanjit Singh, the general secretary of the mulazim manch — whose activists today staged a dharna outside the Labour Commissioner’s office here demanding action in the case — said: “No school committee or panchayat has the right to terminate the services of any employee who has served for 89 days. Terminating workers’ services does not come under their purview, according to labour laws. These workers have been victimised for dropping sweets.”

Labour Commissioner Vipin Parmar said: “I have received a complaint from their (trio’s) side but no one has approached me in person till date. Still, an inquiry has been marked in the matter.”

Chandigarh, June 7
The Punjab Cabinet today decided to convene a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on June 13 to elect its Deputy Speaker, a post that had fallen vacant following the elevation of Satpal Gosain as a Cabinet minister.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The Cabinet also approved the Assured Career Progression Scheme in consonance with the recommendations of the Fifth Punjab Pay Commission. Hundred new posts of Excise and Taxation Inspectors have been created and will be filled through the Punjab Subordinate Service Selections Board.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to regularise the services of Education Service Providers that will entail an additional expenditure of Rs 5 crore annually on the state exchequer.

It also approved the transfer of 86 acre, 6 marla land of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences to Punjab Urban Development Authority on cash basis under the Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Lands (OUVGL) scheme.

It approved to amend the land purchase policy of the state government to acquire land for public purposes. Land will be acquired only after farmers have formally offered it. Small farmers can also avail of this facility through consolidation of land for which they will have to pay a 2 per cent commission to the consolidators.

The Cabinet gave its nod to notify the Punjab State Medical Tourism Policy 2011 to encourage the establishment of new or expanding existing medical facilities in the state to create centres of excellence for health care and to promote medical tourism.

It also approved to amend clauses of the Punjab Minor Mineral Concessions Rules 1964 to regulate the rates of sand in the market besides streamlining the procedure of awarding contract for extraction of minor minerals.

The Cabinet also gave approval to carve out Mehatpur as a new block in Jalandhar district, which will now have 63 village panchayats, of which 58 had been part of Nakodar and five of Shahkot blocks.

It approved budgetary support to Pungrain through the Food and Civil Supplies Department for the development of modern steel silos on scientific lines.

Bathinda, June 7
The Punjab Mail that runs from Ferozepore to Mumbai has entered its 100th year of service.

Once known as the pride of Punjab, the train was introduced by the British in 1912 between Peshawar and Mumbai.

Although the exact date of the introduction of the train is not clear, records show a complaint (dated October 12, 1912) lodged by an angry passenger regarding its delayed arrival at the Delhi station.

The Punjab Mail, that has acquired the status of a superfast train, is about 16 years older than the Frontier Mail.

It was most favoured by the British officers in the pre-Partition days. It continues to be the favourite train of residents in the Malwa belt travelling to Delhi or Mumbai.

With 24 airconditioned and ordinary coaches, the train covers 1,930 km in 34 hours. This was the fastest train carrying officers from the South to the North during the British regime. Archival documents indicate that it made its inaugural run from Mumbai on June 1, 1912.

Before the Partition, it used to traverse 2,496 km in 47 hours between Peshawar and Bombay (now Mumbai).

According to the records of the Central Railway, in 1914 the train (from Bombay to Delhi) covered 1,541 km in 29 hours and 30 minutes.

In the early 1920s, this transit time was reduced to 27 hours 10 minutes, despite as many as 18 intermediate stops.

In 1972, the trainsit time was pushed up to 29 hours. Today, the Punjab Mail has as many as 37 intermediate stops. The cost of running the train from Bombay to Punjab, according to 1911 estimates, was to be shared equally by the GIP Railway and the North Western Railway.

The document states that the cost of the “eight-car train” was then an astronomical Rs 89.40 lakh.

This included the design and construction of the cars from the Burma teak at the Matunga Workshop.

Chandigarh, June 7
The core committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal today condemned the police action on innocent people gathered at the Ram Leela Maidan in Delhi. A meeting of the committee, held here under Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, described the action as a blot on the democratic setup of the country. “The action proves that the UPA government is least bothered about upholding the democratic and constitutional rights of the people.”

The committee passed a resolution saying that black money stashed in foreign banks must be brought back and the name of the owners made public.

In another resolution, it criticised the “dilly-dallying” attitude of the Centre in conducting the SGPC elections. It lamented that since Independence, respective Congress governments “have conspired to damage this supreme institution of the Khalsa Panth.”

The committee expressed grief over the death of the CM’s wife Surinder Kaur.

Among those present at the meeting were Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Gurdev Singh Badal, Jathedar Tota Singh, all senior vice-presidents of the party, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal and PS Chandumajra, both general secretaries, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and Daljeet Singh Cheema, secretary. — TNS

Patiala, June 7
Supporters of the People's Party of Punjab led by former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, have alleged that they are being harassed at the behest of the Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal.

After attending public meetings addressed by Manpreet Badal at Bhadson, a few kilometres from here, several of them complained that the government machinery was being misused to ensure that people from the grasroots level stayed away from PPP rallies.

Gurpreet Singh, a Patiala resident, alleged that he was being harassed by police personnel. “This is nothing but anarchy. How can the SAD-BJP government pressurise the people in such a manner,” he asked. Many others levelled similar allegations.

Addressing the gathering at Bhadson, Manpreet Singh asked the people to unite against corruption. He said the need of the hour was to dethrone “corrupt politicians who are at the helm of affairs in Punjab.”

He asked the people to vote for clean candidates, “who are not corrupt and do not face criminal charges.”

Mohali, June 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has held a Ludhiana-based company selling a medicine, ‘Diabo 100 capsules’, for diabetes through tele-shopping guilty of duping a consumer who suffered mental and physical harassment. The company not only has been ordered to refund the sale price of the medicine but also has been told to pay Rs 25,000 for being deficient in service.

Comprising president BS Mehandiratta and members Dr SS Dhaliwal and HK Ghuman, the forum passed the order following a complaint by Santokh Singh, an ex-servicemen.

In his complaint, Santokh Singh alleged that after consuming 145 capsules bought from the company he started facing medical problems like weakness, excessive urination and also developed cataract. His sugar level, too, rose abnormally.

The company, Kaushal Enterprises, Sant Ishar Singh Nagar Flats, Ludhiana, has been directed to discontinue the sale of the medicine and stop its advertisement. It has also been ordered to destroy its existing stock.

The forum also directed the television channel Fastway Transmission Pvt Ltd to separately pay Rs 25,000 on account of harassment and deficiency in service and issue a corrective advertisement within a week. The channel has been advised not to air such advertisements in future without verifying the antecedents and credentials of the advertiser.

The complainant stated that on seeing the advertisement, showing numerous benefits of this medicine in various persons, he was lured to buy it. The advertisement was shown on TV channels continuously without any statutory warning. Being a diabetics for the last 11 years, he was under treatment at Military Hospital, Chandimandir.

After being put on notice, the company and the television channel contested the claim of the complainant. The forum observed that the channel failed to place on record any material to prove having advertised the requisite warning so as alert viewers about dubious advertisements. The forum directed the company to deposit Rs 1,50,000 with it for other affected consumers who too may have been duped and probably may approach it for refund of the capsule cost.

Chandigarh, June 7
The Punjab Health Department has decided to re-conduct the examination for Homoeopathy Medical Officers through the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, despite protests by successful candidates.

Health Secretary Satish Chandra said several anomalies had been noticed in the earlier examination conducted by C-DAC, a private agency.

He said that a check by the Baba Farid University had revealed that as many as 28 questions were wrongly framed.

Besides this, the Baba Farid University has claimed that those who set the paper for the examination conducted in December last had taken questions in bulk from a reference guide.

This had been objected to by a number of unsuccessful candidates who have termed this kind of question selection as “very shoddy” and had urged the government to re-conduct the examination.

However, the 58 successful candidates claim that everyone was uniformly affected even if some of the questions had been wrongly framed.

They said that after the conduct of the examination in December last, the result had been declared in January. Following this, they had also attended counselling for the same.

Dr Alka, who had cleared the exam held in December, alleged that a Homoeopathic Medical Officer serving in the department sat besides his wife during the examination. One of the complainants who wanted the examination scrapped was the officer’s wife as she had not cleared it.

Dr Param Kamalpreet, a successful candidate, demanded that the appointments of those who had been successful in the examination should stand.

Meanwhile, preparations have been made by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Faridkot to conduct Punjab Medical Entrance Test 2011 tomorrow.

According to an official spokesman, this year over 9000 students are appearing in examination in 44 centres.

He said four centres have been set up in Ferozepur, 10 in Kotkapura and 30 in Faridkot.

To check impersonation, all candidates would have to give their thumb impressions that would be tallied at the time of counselling.

Chandigarh, June 7
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that teachers with doubtful antecedents and character have no place in service. Even strong suspicion is enough to disqualify a candidate for appointment as a teacher.

The stringent ruling came on an appeal filed by Jarnail Singh against the State of Punjab and other respondents.

In his appeal placed before the Division Bench of Justice MM Kumar and Justice Gurdev Singh, Jarnail Singh threw a challenge to judgment dated January 28 last passed by a Single Judge. He had upheld the order dated August 22, 2009, by Punjab Director Public Instructions (Schools), declining Jarnail Singh’s request for reinstatement in service as Mathematics Master.

Jarnail Singh was appointed on July 7, 1998, purely on temporary post on two years probation. His induction in service was subject to verification of antecedents and character. If the antecedents were found unsatisfactory, his service was liable to be terminated without notice.

The state claimed two criminal cases were found to be registered against Jarnail Singh during verification of his character and antecedents. In both the FIRs, the allegations against the appellant were leakage of question papers of annual examination conducted by the Punjabi University, Patiala.

It was alleged that the appellant impersonated and appeared in the examination for some other candidate. In one of the FIRs registered at Dhuri police station, cancellation report was accepted by the Magistrate on March 11, 1988. In the other case, the petitioner earned acquittal vide judgment dated March 28, 2006.

The Bench observed: “The Single Judge rejected his claim by holding that the appellant never completed two years period of probation and, therefore, he did not acquire a right to hold the post…. It was further held that the employment of a teacher is not an ordinary government service…. If a teacher lacks in moral values, character or integrity, he would pose a much serious danger to the society then an external aggression by an enemy country.”

Dismissing the appeal, the Bench asserted: “The teacher plays a pivotal role in the society. Children of impressionable age are entrusted to their custody. If his antecedent and character is doubtful, then there is nothing wrong if he is declined the relief of reinstatement. The Single Judge is absolutely right in observing that most precious assets of the nation cannot be placed in the hands of such persons who have dubious antecedents.” 

Chandigarh, June 7
Taking cognizance of a petition accusing the Punjab Public Service Commission of indulging in discrimination between two sets of candidates for the State Civil Services Examination, 2009, a vacation Bench of the high court today issued notice of motion to the authority.

In his petition placed before the Bench of Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia and Justice Augustine George Masih, Rouble Sharma contended that certain candidates not having bachelor’s degree were allowed to appear in the examination, subject to the deposition of proof of their passing the degree later on. However, candidates like him, he pleaded, who were to appear in the Punjabi examination at the matriculation level at the time of deposition of forms, but have passed the examination before the preliminary examinations, have been disqualified. — TNS

Chandigarh, June 7
If allegations in a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court are to be believed, the Patiala Municipal Corporation is selling properties which do not belong to it.

In the petition filed in the public interest, Rajinder Sharma, a Patiala resident, has alleged that the properties were being sold for extraneous considerations to extend undue benefits to their “favourites”.

The petition, filed during the High Court vacations, has come just three days before the scheduled date of auction. Taking into consideration the urgency involved in the matter, a vacation Bench today issued a notice of motion to the State of Punjab, director in the Department of Local Bodies and the Patiala MC.

In his petition placed before the Bench of Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia and Justice Augustine George Masih, Sharma alleged that the auctions were being carried out without even verifying “whether the property actually and factually belongs to the corporation”.

Quoting an example, Sharma said the property situated at the Khalsa Medical Hall and Jagdish Ashram Road actually does not belong to the MC. It was, rather, owned by the Public Works Department.

Seeking the quashing of the notice dated May 27 for putting the MC’s properties under the hammer, Sharma added it was “illegal and arbitrary against the public interest and Patiala residents.”

“As per the notice, the auction was to be held on June 10 at 11 am. After hearing the petitioner, the Bench also fixed July 25 as the next date of hearing in the matter,” he added.

Bathinda, June 7
A criminal case was registered against owners of a rice mill, located in Gumti Kalan village of the district, for allegedly siphoning off paddy worth Rs 4.5 crore. The complaint was lodged by TS Chopra, District Food and Supply Controller (DFSC), Bathinda.

Police sources said that a case under Sections 406 and 409 of IPC was registered against couple Daljeet Singh and Dilraj Kaur in Dyal Pura police station of Bathinda district.

According to sources, 1.35 lakh bags of paddy had been stored in Amanpreet Rice Mill, Gumti Kalan, in 2009-2010 by Pungrain for its custom milling by the owners of rice mill.

The owners of the rice mill were supposed to deliver 67 per cent rice of total weight, which was around 32,200 quintals, to Pungrain. The mill owners delivered only about 6,986 quintals of rice to Pungrain.

On getting information that mill owners had diverted the rice into the open market instead of delivering it to Pungrain, a physical verification was carried out by officials of the DFSC on June 3. But no stock of paddy or rice was found lying on the premises of the mill. No arrest has been made so far.