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HC stays selection process of 7,041 teachers
trail of death |
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PCC expansion hangs in limbo
Chandigarh, June 11 Even as the issue of expanding the PPCC hangs in limbo, Amarinder today made out a case for expanding the block and district-level committees beyond the party's constitutional limit. Furore over appointment of Mahila Cong chief
55 judicial officers promoted
VS Malik to be sworn in as HC judge on June 15
Don’t pardon Sarabjit: PIL in Pak court
Only six doctors for 17 dispensaries in Patiala
Millers threaten to boycott paddy procurement
Power Corp signs purchase agreement
Harpreet Case
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HC stays selection process of 7,041 teachers
Chandigarh, June 11 In a major embarrassment to the State, a Division Bench has also held that the amended Punjab Panchayati Raj Primary Teachers (Recruitment & Conditions of Service) Rules and the advertisement offend the “principles of equality guarded by the courts with zeal and in right earnest”. The assertion came on civil writ petition number 11071 of 2011 filed through counsel Vikas Chatrath. He had challenged the vires of the rules, along with an amendment carried out in it through a notification dated April 18. Holding that the rules and the advertisement cannot stand judicial scrutiny, the vacation Bench of Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia and Justice Augustine George Masih asserted though the petition lacked necessary pleadings, they were taking suo motu notice of “certain features and mode of selection which run counter to our well-nurtured constitutional ethos and thus, they must be nipped in the bud at the earliest”. The Bench asserted features of the rules and the advertisement that could not stand judicial scrutiny include: The applicant should be a domicile of Punjab or Chandigarh; 70 per cent of the posts are to filled from candidates passing Junior Basic Teachers’ Training (JBT) or Elementary Teachers’ Training (ETT) course from Punjab. The other features found faulty include: Five additional marks to candidates passing middle and matriculation examination from rural schools in Punjab; grant of an additional mark for each year, subject to a maximum of 10 marks, to candidates passing ETT course more than a year ago; and district-wise recruitment of candidates. Giving reasons, the Bench held the condition of Punjab or UT domicile “would run contrary to the mandate of Article 16 of the Constitution, which provides equality of opportunity in matters of public employment”. The Bench added it could also not fathom what could be achieved by having 70 per cent quota, after 100 per cent reservation for Punjab and Chandigarh domicile. The Bench further added additional marks would convert merit “into demerit and demerit into merit”; and a “brilliant person who is a fresh pass-out is being unnecessarily put to disadvantage”. Moreover, to “appoint the candidates district-wise is also contrary to the constitutional scheme”. The Bench concluded: “Prima-facie, the entire advertisement and the amended rules run foul to the constitutional scheme. Thus, we are constrained to restrain the respondents to take any further steps in furtherance of advertisement”.
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10 killed in separate mishaps
Four of family among 5 dead as car plunges into canal; blast at cracker unit kills two girls PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service
Amritsar, June 11 According to information, the mishap occurred as the “speeding” car (PB-58 G9057) skidded off the bridge and fell into the canal. The victims, Gurdip Singh (55), his wife Simranjit Kaur (52), daughter-in-law Simar Kaur (25), grandson Tavsharanjit Singh (3) and driver Sharanjit Singh (30), belonged to Udowali village in Batala. Navjeet Singh, Gurdeep Singh’s son and father of Tavsharanjit, sustained serious injuries. He was rescued by the police personnel and villagers in the morning. The bodies of the deceased and the mangled remains of the car had to be fished out with the help of cranes. The family, it has been learnt, was heading to Amritsar for the treatment of Tavsharanjit, who had been referred by village doctors for specialised care. SHO Harkrishan Singh said the bodies were handed over to the family members of the victims after a post-mortem examination at Ajnala Civil Hospital. He said the car was apparently being driven at a high speed as the condition of the child might have been serious. The driver, Sharanjit Singh, lost control over the vehicle and it fell into the canal after hitting the bridge railings, he said. The Jhander police has registered a case under Section 174 of the IPC. Meanwhile, two girls were killed and three others, including two women, sustained injuries in an explosion at a cracker unit at Ibban Kalan village, about 15 km from here, today. The deceased were identified as Rupa (20) of Anngarh and Preeti (16) of the adjoining Sangda Hawelia village. The injured have been admitted to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. According to Kuldeep Kaur, one of the injured persons, the fire broke out near the door of the building that resulted in bursting of the firecrackers. About 10-15 employees, majority of them women, were working in the factory at the time of the incident. “We got stuck in the building, while the remaining persons saved themselves by jumping the wall,” she added. Sarpanch of adjoining Sangna Hawelia village Balwant Singh said about three explosions were heard by the residents. Attari DSP Hardev Singh Boparai informed that one of girls died on the spot, while the other one succumbed to injuries on her way to the hospital.
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PCC expansion hangs in limbo
Chandigarh, June 11 Notably, there has widespread clamour in the party over getting accommodated in the block and district-level committees. Some confusion had also arisen as to who would constitute them following indications from Congress general secretary-cum-state affairs in charge Gulchain Singh Charak that he would also have a role in their constitution. Charak had admitted during an interaction after the meeting of newly elected PPCC office-bearers and block and district presidents that it was the prerogative of the PPCC president to choose his team. However, sources said whether or not Amarinder's wish to expand the committees would be fulfilled was still to be seen. The high command has not expanded the PPCC despite a formal request made by the party's state president to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. The issue of revolt by Congress legislators Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Surinderpal Singh Sibia when their names were not included in the PPCC list and the subsequent show-cause notices issued to them had also been resolved. Amarinder said both the legislators had offered an unconditional apology for their actions. He said no disciplinary action would be taken against the legislators as the aim of the notices was only to make them adhere to the party line. Amarinder also said that he had appealed to the high command for the announcement of the party ticket for the forthcoming elections well in advance. He claimed that Sonia Gandhi agreed with him on the issue. Meanwhile, the party also distributed a booklet to the executive members and block and district-level presidents explaining the viewpoint on various charges of corruption being levelled against the UPA Government in the recent past. The party has made it clear that the UPA had followed a policy of "zero tolerance" on the issue of corruption and had taken stringent action both in the Commonwealth and 2G scams.
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Furore over appointment of Mahila Cong chief
Chandigarh, June 11 The Mahila Congress workers expressed their anguish to the party state general gecretary in charge Gulchain Singh Charak and even tried to stop PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh from leaving the PPCC office. Both the leaders had earlier addressed a meeting of the office-bearers, block and district presidents. According to sources, Charak has allegedly recommended the name of a newcomer Manisha Gulati for the said post. Charak is said to have claimed that the senior leaders were unanimous on this decision. Mahila Congress leader Supinder Kalkat Cheema said their unit would not allow any newcomer to be foisted on the organisation.
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Centre has always been unjust to Punjab: Badal
Patran (Patiala), June 11 “The contentious issue of river waters, that ought to be settled as per the world-over established riparian principles, has deliberately been hanging fire due to the apathetic attitude of the Centre towards Punjab,” he said. Addressing mediapersons during a Sangat Darshan held here today, the Chief Minister said the Punjab Government was fully seized of the matter pertaining to the erection of a wall along the Hansi Butana canal by Haryana. He said a petition against Haryana had already been filed in the apex court and a battery of eminent lawyers and legal experts had been engaged to defend the case. Badal said the SAD-BJP alliance would contest the next Assembly elections solely on the plank of development, communal harmony and peace. Taking a dig at the Congress, the Chief Minister said the state Congress leadership could not have even dreamt of the unprecedented development in the state during the four-and-a-half year regime of the SAD-BJP as compared to their tenure of more than 25 years in Punjab. Before the Sangat Darshan, Badal laid the foundation stone of a tehsil complex and bus stand at Patran that would come up at an estimated cost of Rs 6.71 crore and Rs 75 lakh respectively. During today’s Sangat Darshan, Badal disbursed development grants of Rs 4.5 crore among 80 village panchayats for the execution of various development works and welfare schemes. Meanwhile, on the issue of rampant corruption and the black money in the country, Badal said the Centre should immediately accept the demands of yoga guru Baba Ramdev. He also warned the Centre to be prepared to face the consequences in case anything happens to Ramdev. “Retrieving black money is not at all a big issue, only strong political will is needed for which the Centre must come forward,” said the CM.
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Hike MGNREGA wages: Paswan
Jalandhar, June 11 Addressing a rally of MGNREGA workers at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall here, Paswan said he would soon raise the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Also, he alleged that there was a big scam in the making of job cards under the scheme, which should be investigated. Paswan, a former Union minister, said Haryana was giving a minimum pay of Rs 179 a day to labourers under the national programme, but the remuneration in Punjab was a mere Rs 124. The LJP, said he, would motivate the workers to shift to Haryana to mount pressure on the Punjab Government for hiking the wages.
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55 judicial officers promoted
Ludhiana, June 11 Those promoted and posted as CJM at different districts include: Balwinder Kumar Sharma (Ludhiana), Rakesh Kumar Sharma (Muktsar), Harjeet Singh (Bathinda), Krishan Kumar Bansal(Ferozepur), RK Kondal (Tarn Taran), Rajwinder Kaur (Barnala), Ram Kumar (Hoshiarpur), Kiran Bala (Kapurthala), Kuldip Singh-II (Amritsar), Baljinder Singh-II (Gurdaspur), Sham Lal (Patiala), Rakesh Kumar Gupta (Moga), Kuljit Pal Singh (Patiala), Mandeep Kaur Bedi (Ropar), Harreet Kaur Kaleka (Jalandhar), Paramjit Kaur(Sangrur). Promoted Civil Judges (senior division) include Gurdarshan Kaur Dhaliwal (Faridkot), Poonam Ratti (Gurdaspur), Naval Kumar(Hoshairpur), Jaswinder Singh (Muktsar), Pushvinder Singh (Ropar), Sanjiv Joshi (Jalandhar), Khem Karan Goyal (Chandigarh), Shivinder Singh Mann (Amritsar), Ajaib Singh (Mohali), Sham Lal(Patiala), Harinder Sidhu (Bathinda). Twenty-nine Civil Judges (junior division) have been promoted as Additional Civil Judges (senior division). They include Sandeep Singh Jossan (Patti), Balwant Singh (Patiala), Ravi Inder Kaur (Phul), Manoj Kumar Singla (Samana), KK Jain (Sultanpur Lodhi), Shiv Mohan Garg (Sunam), Charanjit Arora (Jalalabad), Randhir Verma (SBS Nagar), Manisha Jain (Nabha), Avtar Singh Barda (Jalandhar). Others who were promoted include: Balwinder Kumar (Mansa), Barinder Singh Ramana (Patiala), Ravdeep Singh Hundal (Batala), Sumit Ghai (Fazilka), Parminder Singh Rai (Sardulgarh), Sonia Kinra (Mukerian), Sanjeeta (Talwandi Sabo), Deepak Kumar Chowdhary(Budhlada), Puneet Mohan Sharma (Khanna), Rajni Chhokra(Phillaur), Jagdeep Sood (Amritsar), Ranjeev Kumar (Dera Bassi), Girish (Jagraon), Manjinder (Ropar), Kewal Krishan (Anandpur Sahib), Raman Kumar (Zira), Rajvinder Singh (Abohar), Barjinder Pal Singh (Ferozepur) and Palwinder Jit Kaur (Gurdaspur).
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VS Malik to be sworn in as HC judge on June 15
Chandigarh, June 11 Judge-designate Malik was earlier posted as High Court registrar. Available information from Delhi suggests his name has been cleared for elevation by the President of India. It is believed the warrants of his appointment were received by the High Court on Friday. Malik will be administered oath during the ongoing summer vacations. Acting Chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel is expected to administer oath of office to Malik as Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi continues to be on leave for medical reasons. The Tribune was the first to report that Malik’s name has been cleared for elevation by the apex court collegium. With his elevation, the number of judges will increase to 43, against the sanctioned strength of 68. The strength is expected to improve further, once the names of nine advocates, suggested for elevation, are cleared.
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Don’t pardon Sarabjit: PIL in Pak court
Islamabad, June 11 The petition was filed by Rana Ilamuddin Ghazi in the Lahore High Court. Ghazi claimed any move by the President to pardon a murder convict under Article 45 of the Constitution would go against the Quran and Sunnah, which say that nobody except the heirs or family of a victim have the power or right to pardon a murderer. The teachings of Islam demand that Article 45 must be removed from the Constitution by declaring it as against the Quran and Sunnah, he claimed. Ghazi claimed that Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit who is visiting Pakistan, is making all-out efforts to win the sympathies of the Prime Minister and President for getting a presidential pardon for her brother. Referring to the teachings of Islam, Ghazi claimed Sarabjit cannot be granted a pardon by the President or anybody except the heirs of the victims who lost their lives in the blasts blamed on Sarabjit. Ghazi named the President, the Home Department of Punjab province and the Superintendent of Kotlakhpat Jail, where Sarabjit is being held, as respondents in his petition. Sarabjit has been on death row since he was convicted for alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in 1990 that killed 14 people. His family insists that he was wrongly convicted for the bombings. Though he was set to be hanged in 2008, Pakistani authorities put off his execution indefinitely after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani intervened in the matter. — PTI
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Only six doctors for 17 dispensaries in Patiala
Patiala, June 11 “Most of the times we are told that the doctors have gone for some other duties. This leaves us with no other option, but to get treatment from some private clinic,” said a patient. Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal was in the city today and the doctors of the Tripri and Badungar dispensary were attached with him. The patients returned without getting treatment from these dispensaries. Resident of Indra colony Beena Kumari, who works as a domestic help, took her five-year-old daughter to the dispensary today for treatment, but had to get her daughter treated at a private clinic as the doctor wrras on VIP duty. “Private doctors charge a lot of money and we cannot afford the same. We could not delay the treatment of our daughter as she was unwell since last night. I had to spend Rs 200 as visiting charges of the doctor and medicine,” she rued. With seemingly no end to the patients’ problem, most of these dispensaries are lying vacant since last two-three years and the patients suffer on a daily basis in the absence of the doctors. While the patients are struggling, the doctors have their own set of problems. One of the doctors, on condition of anonymity, said they could not help it. “The department has overburdened us. Moreover, the elections are close, due to which the VIP movement in the city has increased due to which our VIP duties have increased. The appointment of these doctors results in the inconvenience to the patients,” he said. Patiala civil surgeon Japinder Kaur said she had sent a detailed report of the vacancies to the department and had been assured that the posts would be filled soon.
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Millers threaten to boycott paddy procurement
Ludhiana, June 11 Talking to The Tribune, president of the association Tarsem Saini said due to the acute storage of space, 40 per cent of the paddy procured in the last season was yet to be milled. With rise in mercury, the moisture content in the rice had fallen from 14-15 per cent to 11-12 per cent and thus, the out-turn ratio had come down to 4 kg per quintal. Similarly, the breakage percentage had increased by 10 per cent. ‘‘Pre-monsoon showers and hailstorm have further aggravated the situation, as the percentage of the damage and discoloration in the paddy stocks has also increased considerably. This has been causing huge losses to the millers since the last two years,’’ said Saini. He appealed to the state government to take up the matter with the Union Food Ministry for the fixation of revised specifications of the rice, so as to accomplish the milling task that had already been much delayed.
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Patiala IG office building in a shambles
Patiala, June 11 Built by the erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala at the Baradari Gardens, the building presently holds the office of many senior police officials. While one acknowledges that the building is no architecture wonder like the others of its time, it may still be of some interest to persons interested in studying old art of building construction. “We have written to the Public Works Department (PWD) regarding the problem as the repairs can only be carried out by it,” claimed a munshi working in the office. With lack of funds with the Police Department, not much repair work has been done on the building and has gradually led to weakening of the structure. “Our office has already requested the branch concerned to declare this building unsafe,” said IG Gill. Meanwhile, an adjoining building inside the venue, which earlier housed the office of the DSP, is already on the verge of collapse and office of the DSP (city II) has already been shifted to another place. “Yesterday, a big chunk of mud fell on our cup while we were having tea. Thankfully we were safe,” said a policeman sitting in the DSP (rural) office. PWD Superintendent Engineer, Patiala, SS Dhindsa told the Tribune that he had already forwarded a request to the government for the grant of requisite sanctions and funds. “The building needs to be dismantled and rebuilt. It cannot be repaired,” he stated.
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Power Corp signs purchase agreement
Patiala, June 11 While stating this here today, PSPCL CMD KD Chaudhri said, “The project is being developed under the New and Renewable Sources of Energy Policy-2006 of the Punjab Government.” “The fuel to be used in the plant will be rice straw and other bio-mass fuels. The capacity of the plant is 20 MW, which will be developed in two phases of 10 MW each. The first phase of the project is expected to be commissioned by April 2013. The project will cost about Rs 80 crore,” said
Chaudhri.
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Harpreet Case
Patiala, June 11 Defence counsel Satnam Singh Kler moved an application that as Kamaljit was telling lies in the court, he should be asked to produce the passport of his wife, child and his own. — TNS
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Amritsar, June 11
A day after Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, supported the Rs 80 hike in the MSP of paddy, Amarinder Singh on Saturday said he was unhappy with the raise. Maintaining that there needed to be some correlation between the MSP and the input cost, Amarinder, however, said: "We have to agree with the Union Government's decision as it can only do that much.”
LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan has said that his party would field candidates from all 117 constituencies in the Assembly elections in Punjab. The announcement regarding the constituency in charges, said he, would be made soon. Also, he ruled out the chances of an alliance with any political party, including the BSP and Manpreet Badal-led People’s Party of Punjab. On Baba Ramdev’s fast, he claimed it had been sponsored by the BJP and the RSS.
VIP duties add to patients’ woes