The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Demolition of Heritage Buildings in Amritsar HC orders status quo Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 5 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed maintenance of status quo on the demolition of heritage buildings of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation Complex. The directions by the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice RN Raina came on a petition by the National Welfare Society. Counsel for the petitioner alleged rather than filing a response to the PIL, that the government chose to demolish the building. If allegations in its petition filed in public interest against “demolishing or tampering with the heritage buildings” are to be believed, the government under the “Chief Minister and his son Deputy Chief Minister” has “made up its mind to give away the prime heritage public property into private hands”. The petitioner has also alleged that “it has further decided to make hotel/shops etc by ruining the heritage of the State of Punjab”. The petitioner added: “On February 4 last, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of the present Deputy Chief Minister, wherein it was decided that the Town Hall Complex, which houses the offices of the Municipal Corporation, Amritsar, be shifted. “Further plans to reuse the Town Hall complex were materialised. It was decided that the feasibility of reusing the town hall complex as a hotel under public/private partnership be considered. “It was further decided that the entire project which would include hotels, shops, museums etc, should be undertaken by private partners for running and maintaining the same”. Arguing on the petitioner’s behalf, counsel Deepak Sibal asserted that the building was 143 years old. Protecting heritage National Welfare Society in its petition alleged that rather than filing a response to the PIL, that the government chose to demolish the building The petitioner also alleged that the government has further decided to make hotel/shops etc by ruining the heritage of state
	Glum Dasehra 9 months on, no salaries for aided schoolteachers Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, October 5 It is festive season. As the entire city busies itself in splurging on the festive goodies, the aided school teachers look on with heavy hearts. They can’t buy their wives that new saree for Karvachauth nor their sons and daughters the toys and dresses they had promised since last year because they are, almost literally, without money. Out of the 53 aided schools in the city, as many as 17 schools have been without salaries for the past nine months and the rest, for the past six months. While a month earlier it was the education department they had qualms with, now the finance department is sitting on the salaries of more than a 1000 aided school teachers in the district. Kulwarn Singh, president of the Punjab Aided School Teachers Association says, “We talked to the district treasury officer, he just needs a phone call to release our checks. We had reminded them on Friday, reminded them again today. On both occasions the Deputy Director T&A (treasuries and accounts) said it will be done the same day. But we are still languishing without any money as our kids watch other families splurging away on Dasehra.” He says about 400 to 500 aided school teachers from 17 aided schools in the district haven’t received salaries for the past nine months (since January) and those in the rest 36 (plus some primary aided schools) have not received them for the past six months (since April) . A teacher at a local aided school says, “Previously, the education department wasn’t releasing them due to some objection on some estimates, now it’s the treasury. Government employees hold protests at the drop of a hat, we are just being exploited. We can’t pay our children’s fees. We can’t take them shopping, we can’t even have a decent celebration at our home. The government couldn’t get some simple salary bills cleared for the past nine months? It’s hard to believe.” Deputy Director, T&A, when contacted, said, “They are always quick to blame us for every discrepancy that happens. We receive a1,000 bills daily. I am not even aware whether the bill has been sent to our department so far. Though we have been receiving calls about the matter from some people. Now that the issue has been raised, I will talk to the principal secretary, finance, about the matter.” Money Matters Earlier it was the education department, but now the district treasury officer says he is not receiving a green signal from the top About 400 to 500 teachers from 17 schools sans salaries for the past nine months The rest from the remaining 36 school teachers without salaries for the past six months Teachers say deputy director T&A provided assurances on Friday and today to clear salaries within hours, but no result so far
	3 govt docs fined Rs 1.6 lakh for negligence Dharmendra Joshi Tribune News Service Hoshiarpur, October 5 In a significant decision, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Hoshiarpur, has directed three government doctors to pay Rs 1.6 lakh as damages and litigation cost to Sukhdev Singh for their medical negligence. The President of the Forum, Ashok Kumar, and its member Sushma Handoo directed the Senior Medical Officer of Primary Health Centre (PHC), Tanda, Dasuya, Dr Navjot Kaur and Dr Karamjit Singh to pay Sukhdev Singh Rs 50,000 each as compensation for harassment, pain and mental agony caused to him. Sukhdev Singh in his complaint, filed under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, appealed to the Forum to direct the doctors to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation due to the death of his wife, Balwinder Kaur. He also asked for Rs 50,000 as compensation due to mental tension, physical harassment and agony and additional Rs 10,000 as litigation expenses. He stated that pregnant Balwinder Kaur was admitted to the PHC on December 26, 2008 and a female child was born on the same day. The operation was conducted by Dr Karamjit Singh and Dr Navjot Kaur. Sukhdev Singh’s wife stayed at the centre from December 26 to 30, but her condition did not improve. On December 29, Balwinder Kaur complained of chest pain and difficulty in breathing and at that time no doctor was present in the hospital. Sukhdev Singh requested the nurse on-duty to call the doctors, but all in vain. He also made written complaints against the doctors and staff of the PHC to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Punjab. Consequently, an inquiry was conducted by Dr Chaman Lal, District Family Welfare Officer-cum-Enquiry Officer, Hoshiarpur. The inquiry officer found the said doctors as well as staff of the PHC guilty. The inquiry report was forwarded to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab. The Civil Surgeon, Hoshiarpur, also agreed with the findings of the enquiry officer.
	Garbage dumping issue: Admn pacifies irate residents Parmod Bharti Nawanshahr, October 5 Finally, the impasse over the issue of dumping of garbage at the Municipal Council's dumping ground situated at Musapur Road here was temporarily resolved with residents, who were up in arms, deciding to end their protest. Following which a massive operation to remove heaps of garbage from the town was started on a war-footing. Barjinder Singh, tehsildar, on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh, held a meeting with MC chief Rajinder Chopra, executive officer Bhushan Aggarwal, councillors Chet Ram Rattan and Manjit Kaur. Later, the administration assured the residents to find alternative dumping sites. Residents agreed to allow garbage dumping on Musapur Road site for 15 days. They said they won’t hold protest during this period. Barjinder Singh, tehsildar, said two dumping sites had been identified for making alternative arrangements. The Municipal Council would be asked to complete their formalities as per rules of the department of the Local Bodies for the purpose. The Municipal Council was forced to stop dumping of garbage at the site due to protest by the nearby residents about six months ago. The situation led to a chaos and the town was dotted with the heaps of garbage in the absence of any alternative site for dumping garbage.
	PPCB orders sealing of 3 auto dealers’ units Our Correspondent Pathankot, October 5 The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) raided auto dealers’ establishments here today. A team, headed by Sandeep Bahl, Environmental Engineer, inspected the premises of auto dealers, including S Pathankot Vehiclades , Krishna Motors and CPL Motors, and observed none of these units have installed effluent treatment plants to stop the discharge of their untreated effluent containing high contents of oil and greese into the nullah passing near these units. The board authority has ordered sealing of these units due to consistent violations of the Preservation and Control of Pollution Act. The Punjab Pollution Control Board has also ordered closure of Bhalai Motors situated on the Dhangu road and directed the PSPCL authorities to disconnect the power supply to the unit.
	Two held for bank dacoity, Rs 4 lakh recovered Our Correspondent Batala, October 5 Ram Singh, DIG Border Range, Amritsar, today claimed that the police has solved a case of dacoity of Rs 13.98 lakh from the State Bank of India, Srihargobindpur branch, has been solved with the arrest of two persons. Ram Singh sad the police have arrested Hardeep Singh and Gurmeet Singh, residents of Shakri village in the case. The police has recovered Rs 4 lakh and a pistol from Hardeep Singh and Rs 3.50 lakh from Gurmeet Singh. According to the police, their accomplice Baljit Singh alias Ghullu resident of Shakri village, Baghail Singh a resident of Sahari village and Baljinder Singh a residnet of Dula Nangal village who are absconding. Hardeep Singh was the mastermind in the case while Gurmeet Singh had given his generator on a monthly rent to the bank. On October 3, Gurmeet Singh gave a pistol to Hardeep singh and went to the bank to repair the generator. As per plan Hardeep Singh, Baljeet Singh and Baljinder Singh and Baghail Singh entered the bank armed with sharp-edged weapons and their faces covered. They then started beating the employees, including Gurmeet Singh (the co-accused) and fled with the cash after locking the employees.
	Three nabbed for selling hooch Tribune News Service Jalandhar, October 5 The police today raided three places in the Basti Shekh area and nabbed three persons for selling hooch this afternoon. Acting on a tip-off, the police conducted raids on Raseela Nagar, Basti Shekh and Dhakeyia Mohalla and nabbed Deepak Kumar and Ranjit Singh of Manjit Nagar and Ramesh Kumar for selling hooch. Satwinder Singh, SHO, revealed that during raids the police found 30 bottles of hooch from their possession. The trio were selling hooch to the tipplers for Rs 10 per peg in front of their places. They had been involved in the trade for quite sometime. After taking the hooch in possession, the police registered a case against them under relevant sections of the Excise Act at Division No 5 police station.
	70 tins of fake cooking oil seized Our Correspondent Batala, October 5 The police has seized 70 tins of fake vegetable oil from a dealer on Dera Road, Batala, Tuesday evening. The police raided the premises of M/S SM Trading Company, Dera Road, here and seized 70 tins of fake vegetable oil each containing 15 litres of palmolein oil, which is cheaper by Rs 200 per tin than the ordinary soya oil. The accused removed the original stickers and pasted fresh ones showing it as Soyabin oil or Ambuja Gold vegetable oil. The tins were handed over to police station Civil lines, Batala for further investigation. The owner of the shop is absconding.