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Youngsters not enthused by voter card
Diwali bonanza for govt employees
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PPP to have 2 manifestos for polls
Dasehra
celebrations assume political hues
Challenging path ahead for newly formed SGPC House
Legal eagle flies past all hurdles
Harried patients at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College Hospital, Faridkot, on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
Chief Minister opposes Central Bill on varsities
Sukhbir: Nothing wrong in having shares in PTC
Extension likely for PTU VC
HANSI BUTANA ROW
Punjab discriminating against BPL families,
says Sunil Jakhar
New numbers for ambulance services
Legal Aid Clinic for weaker lot
Power Corp inks purchase agreements with pvt firms
Former Addl Advocate-Gen’s book finds place
in UK library
Cyber
Fraud
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Youngsters not enthused by voter card
With the summary revision of photo electoral rolls beginning today, the commission hopes to register a large number of these ‘missing’ voters with Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu appealing to the young to get themselves enrolled. Sidhu said the youngsters could check the photo electoral roll and download forms from the website <http://www.ceopunjab.nic.in>. Claims and objections, she said, could be submitted between October 4 and October 20. The Election Commission has decided to monitor paid during campaigning for the ensuing assembly elections in February. The CEO said a special committee would monitor the media at the district level. It would take into account the advertising value of paid news and register the same in the “shadow” file of the candidate concerned. The candidate would be issued due notice to explain his stand. However, the EC is still unclear as to how news published by supporters of the candidate are to be evaluated. Sidhu said as of now, the commission would issue notices following which the matter would become quasi judicial. Five other committees would be constituted at the district level to monitor the expenditure of each candidate as well as to ensure he/she followed the model code of conduct. All functions and rallies would be videographed and the expenditure incurred in organising these would be tallied with the costs mentioned by the candidate. Sidhu said the parties had been given soft copies of the electoral rolls. The rolls could be checked on the website. She said the parties had also been given copies of the new affidavits to be filed by candidates and copies of the election expenditure. CEO seeks copy of Gill’s appointment letter as Adviser
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Diwali bonanza for govt employees
Accepting the recommendations of the Fifth Punjab Pay Commission, the government has allowed cell phone allowance to every category of employees. Group A employees would be allowed Rs 500 , Group B Rs 300 , Group C Rs 150 and Group D Rs 100.
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3 booked in yet another passport scam in Moga
The scam involves a travel agent who is already facing charges of forging documents for preparing passports by fraudulent means. The police has registered a criminal case under sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC and section 12 of the Passport Act, 1967, against Manjit Singh, the travel agent, Ranjit Singh Gehotra and Gurtej Singh. The trio was at large. ASI Gurpal Singh, who is investigating the case, said the scam was detected by the Regional Passport Officer, Chandigarh, during verification of documents. The Regional Passport Officer lodged a complaint with local SSP Sneh Deep Sharma who ordered an inquiry to Baghapurana DSP, following which the case was registered. During the inquiry, the police found that Ranjit Singh had, in 2010, given a fake address of Bhekha village with the help of Gurtej Singh to apply for a passport. The travel agent allegedly forged the documents. On September 30, in a similar fraud, an FIR was registered in the police station (rural) against two persons for making passport on forged documents. It may be mentioned that over 300 persons, including NRIs, cops, officials of the passport office and travel agents, were already facing charges in the infamous Moga passport scam that rocked the nation in 2008. Three policemen, Jaswinder Singh, Ranjit Singh and Gurdial Singh; Ranjit Singh, an employee of the Municipal Council; Om Prakash, a postman and Didar Singh, former employee of the RPO, Chandigarh, were the kingpin of the scam. Many subsequent FIRs had also been registered in the scam, besides the main case. Over 100 people had been arrested so far and lookout certificates issued against 300 NRIs who made fake passports to go abroad. This case is pending for trial before the Faridkot district and sessions court. The modus operandi was that the police employees posted between the years 1995 to 2008 in the passport branch here prepared fake documents of police verifications and then by manipulating with the travel agents or employees of the RPO office tampered with the original forms.
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State refuses to change timings of liquor vends
The assertion came during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest by an advocate, HC Arora. He has challenged Punjab's Excise Policy for 2011-12 as far as it provides for opening of liquor vends at 7 am and provides that the vends shall remain open 5 pm onwards on the Independence Day the and Republic Day. In its affidavit placed before the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice RN Raina, Excise and Taxation Commissioner A Venu Prasad asserted: "The opening and closing hours have been fixed by the State Cabinet while formulating the Excise Policy for the year 2011-2012. It is with a view to check and control the illegal activities of bootleggers and smugglers of liquor." "The grant of these liquor licences constitutes a contract between the State and the licencees. The fixed opening and closing hours of liquor vends constitute a term and condition of such a licence, which could not be altered between period of the year. Large revenues received from these liquor licences by way of licence fee and other levies could be put at a stake," he maintained. On the issue of permitting liquor vends to remain open 5.00 pm onwards on the Independence Day and Republic Day, the IAS officer, in the affidavit, said: "The opening and closure of liquor vends are not against the directive principles of State policy…the whole of the day of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, viz., the 2nd of October is observed as dry day." The affidavit, however, states the suggestions put forth by the petitioner could be examined while formulating excise policy for the next year. The Bench directed the PIL to be listed on October 12 in "urgent matters" for further hearing. The petitioner had earlier contended the opening of liquor vends at 7.00 am was unjustified as large majority of youths in Punjab were increasingly taking to drugs.
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PPP to have 2 manifestos for polls
He was talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a public meeting in the grain market here. He said public opinion would be invited and incorporated in the manifestos. Criticising the Punjab Government for its ‘inefficiency’ in handling Bhakra Dam issue in the Supreme Court and ultimately “losing” the case, Manpreet said Punjab had lost 16% of power from the dam which would now be given to Himachal Pradesh. He also criticised the Punjab Government for “improper handling” of the Hansi Butana case, saying that “the government only considered it as a political fodder for petty politics”. He also said if the canal was constructed, Sangrur district would be the worst sufferer. Commenting on the possibility of alliance with the CPI and CPI(M), Manpreet said alliance with the two parties was almost certain and the decision for the same would be announced after a four-member committee formed for the purpose submits its report. Earlier, while addressing the public meeting, Manpreet launched a scathing attack on his bette noire, cousin and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, saying that the latter had ruined the state during the current SAD-BJP rule in the state. “Punjab is under the grip of unemployment, corruption and starvation even as the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister are making hollow claims of making state prosperous and self-reliant,” Manpreet said. He claimed that huge turnout at today’s rally showed that people of Punjab were supporting his party.
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Dasehra
celebrations assume political hues
Amritsar, October 4 Shri Dasehra Committee, considered to be propped up by Congress leaders, is likely to see former MP RL Bhatia, Congress MLA OP Soni, SC/ST cell commission vice-chairman Raj Kumar Verka, former Deputy Speaker Darbari Lal, Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress president Ratna and DCC (urban) president Jugal Kishore Sharma participating in the celebrations at Qila Parade Ground near the Durgiana Temple. On the same ground, another function will be organised by the Dasehra Committee, Lohgarh Gate. At this function, BJP leaders Navjot Singh Sidhu, MP, Cabinet Minister Luxmi Kanta Chawla, Mayor Shwait Malik, Improvement Trust Chairman Sanjiv Khanna and BJP district president (urban) Anand Sharma are expected to participate. Similar functions are being organised by Congress MLA OP Soni at Chheharta and former Mayor Sunil Dutti (also a Congress leader) at Khandwala Chowk. Akali MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria will celebrate the festival at Bhaddarkali Temple. The leaders zealously guard their areas, not allowing their rivals to hold parallel celebrations in the territory. There was tension in Chheharta a few years back when some BJP leaders tried to hold Dasehra celebrations there, inviting the wrath of local Congress leaders.
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Challenging path ahead for newly formed SGPC House
Ashok Singh Bagaria of the Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh, said the biggest challenge before the new SGPC House would be to bring in consistency in "maryada" (code of conduct). "It has been an unholy election wherein the SAD forged an alliance with the Sant Samaj, which comprises of various deras that follow different 'maryadas'. Many constituents of the Sant Samaj don't follow the Sikh "maryada", but they contested the polls for the SGPC, which is the mini-parliament of Sikhs," he said while wondering that if somebody doesn't follow the norms of a religion how he could be a part of its premier body. He said sculpting idols of gurus for worship was another key issue. "Earlier, there were photographs of Sikh Gurus, but now even their idols have hit the market, which is against Sikh tenets," he added. "Ensuring that the alliances in the state politics do not have any impact on the SGPC will also be a challenge," he opined. Gursharanjeet Singh, Head, Department of Guru Nanak Studies, GNDU, felt that the SGPC has inducted those having political backdrop in its Dharam Parchar Committee, which has diluted the panel's role in evolving strategy on key religious issues. "Earlier, the committee had non-political people and Sikh intellectuals as its members," he said, adding that the panel should be given back its position of prominence. He also felt that "rehat maryada" is a key issue, stating that the SGPC must ensure that consistent "maryada" is implemented and there is no tinkering with it. "Apostasy and mushrooming deras in the state are also huge challenges before the SGPC. The SGPC should come up with world-class educational institutions as it will not only help curb apostasy but will also check migration of Sikh youth to foreign shores for higher studies," he said. Radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh said the ruling SAD will prioritise the challenges before the SGPC keeping in view the forthcoming Assembly elections. "It will take up only those issues on priority over the next few months which will benefit the party in the polls," he added. Apart from these, there is the issue of Dasam Granth. The SGPC has failed to evolve a consensus regarding the authenticity of certain portions of the Dasam Granth, which was penned by the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Also, the SGPC is yet to formulate rules and norms for the appointment, removal, tenure and working sphere of the Jathedars of all the Takhts, the directions regarding which were issued to it by the Takht during the tenure of ex-Jathedar Joginder Singh
Vedanti.
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Legal eagle flies past all hurdles
Despite being fine in studies, penury forced Bishan to quit studies post-matriculation. But, he had made up his mind by then that he would not take up his father’s vocation. He opted for a clerk’s job with a lawyer. By virtue of his simplicity, he went on to become a public prosecutor. He didn’t stop there. Recently, he was chosen for an award that the likes of former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and Punjab and Haryana High Court Judges Justice BS Bedi and Justice NC Khichi have received earlier. Bishan was one of the two people selected from Punjab and honoured this year by the Baba Farid Society, Faridkot, for ‘maintaining highest standards of honesty in public life’. Bishan quit school in 1985. He did a diploma in stenography, but could not pursue higher studies. In 1990, he joined as a clerk with an advocate. The advocate’s wife, a teacher, persuaded him to rejoin higher studies. He would be tutored by her and he passed his Plus 2 examination as a private candidate. Working hard after court hours, he managed to complete his BA in 1998 and later did law with a first division from the Panjab University’s Regional Law Centre, Muktsar. “Initially, people would offer me bribe for not opposing their bail... Now, they come with a good lawyer to talk to me on legal issues,” he said.
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Flash strike by paramedics jams hospital services
Those accompanying critically ill patients were seen running from one hospital to another even as the protesting staff blocked the hospital gate, demanding that their services be regularised. With the emergency department shut, accident victims needing urgent medical assistance, were sent to the Civil Hospital or private clinics. Amandeep Kaur, who was pregnant, had to be rushed to Ludhiana. A young boy with a fractured leg who was brought to the emergency ward was rushed to the Civil Hospital. The strike led to a huge rush of patients at the Civil Hospital. “Against an average of two, last night 12 patients were brought to the emergency ward of the Civil Hospital”, said Jugraj Singh, SMO. Those critically ill were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Medical College Superintendent Col JC Sanadhya expressed his helplessness in tackling the situation. “We are doing our best with the help of paramedical and nursing staff employees on regular services. With the available staff, we are attending only emergency cases and routine operations have been postponed,” said the Superintendent. As this super-specialty medical college cannot refer patients to any other hospital, except the PGI in Chandigarh, it is turning away patients. Dr SS Gill, VC, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, said: “Those on contract are demanding regular jobs. I have assured them that I will raise the matter with the state government, but they want immediate results. We are managing the situation with the help of nursing students.” Veer Pal Kaur, leader of the protesting employees, said they would not budge from their stand.
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Chief Minister opposes Central Bill on varsities
Chandigarh, October 4 In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he has asked him to prevail upon the Ministry of Human Resource Development to exclude the universities from the proposed legislation. He said that the Centre was trying to encroach upon the rights of the states and disturb the federal structure. Badal said under the guise of the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institution and Universities Bill, 2010, the National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Education Bill, 2010, and the Higher Education and Research Bill 2010’ the Ministry of HRD was trying to take over the constitutional rights of the states.
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Sukhbir: Nothing wrong in having shares in PTC
Chandigarh, October 4 Punjab Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh had yesterday released documents stating Orbit Resorts owned by Sukhbir had 99.9 per cent shares in PTC. He claimed Sukhbir had issued advertisements to his own company as Public Relations Minister. Party spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it was not illegal to have a share in any company. There was nothing wrong in owning a media organisation, especially when it was being run on professional lines. Cheema said several Congress leaders like Venod Sharma and Rajiv Shukla owned television channels. He said in South India too leaders had their own media
organisations.
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Traders to earn Rs 2,500 crore from rice export
Chandigarh, October 4 Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon said today the Government of India had lifted the ban on the export of non-basmati rice in September and now the export of rice had only been permitted from private trade and not from the Central pool. He said the Punjab Cabinet had given the nod to allow levy-free private purchase of non-basmati paddy at a meeting held yesterday. In another significant decision, he said that the Cabinet had also approved to refund the infrastructure development (ID) cess on the rice exported from the state. It may be recalled that the ID cess was 3 per cent, which would now be refunded along with other taxes on producing proof of the rice exported from Punjab. The amount of ID cess to be refunded was likely to be around Rs 80 crore. Kairon further said his department had held several meetings with the Government of India to allow the quota for export of rice to the state of Punjab on the basis of its proportionate contribution to the Central pool. As per the information available with the Food and Supplies Department, private traders had hardly any stock for export because they were bound to give 75 per cent of the rice out of their private purchase to the Central pool. He said the Punjab Government had given the nod allowing levy-free private purchase on non-basmati rice in the state. This means that millers would now not have to give levy rice to the Central pool.
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Extension likely for PTU VC
Chandigarh, October 4 The newly constituted Board of Governors of the PTU is scheduled to meet here on October 5. The meeting would be presided over by Chief Secretary SC Aggarwal. Sources said Arora's case for extension would figure in that meeting. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, as per sources, was satisfied with the working of the Vice Chancellor, who is busy in setting up a number of technical institutions in Bathinda region where the Badal family has a huge political stake. On the recommendation of the BJP leadership, Arora was appointed Vice Chancellor of the PTU. He is said to be close to the RSS leadership in Delhi.
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HANSI BUTANA ROW
Patiala, October 4 The agitating farmers were demanding that the Patiala administration convey the state government about the plight of the farmers of the flood prone villages of Punjab near the Ghaggar river, in order to find out a viable solution to the problem. Reiterating the demand of stopping the construction work of the 3.75 km toe wall alongside the Hansi-Butana canal embankment near Dharmheri village on the Patiala-Kaithal highway, Darshan said: “We strongly feel that instead of making this crucial issue as platform to settle political scores, the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana and the Congress-led UPA government should try to resolve the matter so that farmers of about 100 villages, on the Punjab-Haryana border, which are prone to floods, do not have to face devastation due to floods in future.” Addressing the gathering, farmers from various villages said the foremost priority of the state government should be to get all the rivers, seasonal rivulets and drains of Patiala cleansed. Also, instead of fighting a legal battle in the Supreme Court, the heads of the Punjab and Haryana government should together work out a plan through which the problem could be sorted out. “We also demand that if the state government is keen to pursue the legal battle, then the matter should be taken up in the form of comprehensive detailed documents, which are substantial enough to prove that the Hansi-Butana canal is technically wrong and is against the natural contour of the land. Also, the under-construction toe wall would further act as a barrier in the natural flow of water, if Ghaggar overflows”, said Darshan. The farmers also handed over a memorandum addressed to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to the Deputy Commissioner office.
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Punjab discriminating against BPL families,
says Sunil Jakhar
Chandigarh, October 4 Addressing a press conference here, Jakhar said even though the SAD had promised to provide 400 units of free power in one billing cycle to the BPL families in its election manifesto, the government had reduced this figure last year with only 200 units of free power being given to the families in a billing cycle of two months. Jakhar said 9.13 lakh families had been affected by this decision, adding that subsidy should be immediately renewed in case the SAD-BJP combine was really sincere about the welfare of the downtrodden.
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New numbers for ambulance services
Ludhiana, October 4 But the cellphone subscribers of the state having Idea, Airtel and Vodaphone connections did not get any respite. The worst hit are the emergency services. If a person dials 100 for police help from any of the numbers of the three cellular companies, it is not getting connected. Similarly, many numbers of hospitals as well as of fire brigade (101) and ambulance (108) are also out of reach. Naresh Kumar, a fire man from a fire brigade station near the local bus stand, Ludhiana, said: "The number of calls received by us have reduced by 45 to 50 per cent due to the connectivity problem." With all this, people having connection of other cellular companies who need any medical services are feeling harassed. To facilitate them, ‘Ambulance 108’ service has launched its two fresh numbers for Ludhiana district and for the state. Jagdeep Singh, cluster head of Ludhiana-11 for ambulance 108 service, said: "For Punjab, we have launched our fresh number 7307475522, so that subscribers with phone connection of any other cellular company may contact us without problem." While Jatin Malhotra, cluster head for Ambulance -108 services for Ludhiana-11, said: "We have also launched two numbers for the residents of Ludhiana: 7307475506, 9888484889."
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Legal Aid Clinic for weaker lot
Patiala, October 4 The clinic will help in spreading awareness regarding various legal issues and helping people in initiating future course of action. Talking to The Tribune, Prof (Dr) GIS Sandhu, Registrar of the RGNUL, said there was ignorance about law and their rights and duties in the marginalised and weaker sections which needs to be cured at domestic level. "This clinic has been established in order to give effect to the policy and directions of the National Legal Services Authority and to provide free legal aid to needy persons by awakening them, particularly illiterates living in remote backward areas of Punjab, about their legal rights and duties. Also, it will apprise them of different social welfare activities sponsored by the state and central government with ways and means to avail such facilities," he added. He further informed that the cell would provide legal services, including assistance in drafting notices, replies, applications and petitions, monitoring the follow up actions in matters in which legal assistance had been provided, encouraging amicable settlement of disputes. It would also promote setting up of legal aid clinic in distant villages, Sandhu added.
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Power Corp inks purchase agreements with pvt firms
Patiala, October 4 The project is being set up in Chakki Khad, Pathankot, and its total cost is Rs 25 crores. “The project is expected to be commissioned in June 2012”, said Chaudhri, adding that once the project is complete, 3-MW generation capacity project would provide employment to more than 40 persons. PSPCL has also signed another PPA with Avtar Singh Gill, Director M/s, Atlantic Power (Phoola) Pvt. Ltd. Chandigarh. The project is being set up at Phoola, Bathinda, with a capacity of 0.6 MW and the total cost of the project would be Rs 7 crores.
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Former Addl Advocate-Gen’s book finds place
in UK library
Chandigarh, October 4 The book is based on both his personal experience of visiting the courts in Europe during the previous two years and subsequent studies, comparing the legal system of the two countries. Sandhu was initially invited by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court at Lausanne for release of the first edition of the book on June 30. On July 4, the book was launched and presented at the Supreme Court, Cour de Cassation, Paris, France. The book was also presented at the UIA Head Quarters in Paris. It was then launched by Jenny Rowe, Chief Executive, United Kingdom Supreme Court at England. It was also presented to the Member of Parliament for Ealing, at the House of Commons, London.
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Cyber Fraud
Chandigarh, October 4 The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice RN Raina directed the Union ministries concerned and the RBI: “To proceed with any action in order to stop the fraudulent practices, which are being perpetrated by various companies based in India and abroad.” The Bench added the authorities “may take steps including the seizing of bank accounts which have been opened by those companies in various banks in order to siphon off funds of gullible public.” The direction came on a petition filed by a Zirakpur resident Nardeep Saini and 29 other petitioners from the States of Punjab, Haryana and UT. The Bench directed the State to file its reply before November 8. The petitioners had earlier alleged that three companies had fleeced a large number of innocent persons to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore. The petitioners had contended that a large number of Indians were lured in the online investment scheme with assured results of doubling the amount within 10 months.
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Amritsar, October 4
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Chandigarh October 4
Moga, October 4
Chandigarh, October 4
Sangrur, October 4
Amritsar, October 4
Chandigarh, October 4
Faridkot, October 4