The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

security on HC Premises
Bar Association put on notice
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association was today put on notice on a petition filed in public interest on the security on the high court premises.

The notice was issued by the Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice RN Raina on a PIL filed by advocate HC Arora. He was seeking directions to the UT Administration to provide fool-proof security at the High Court.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, UT senior standing counsel urged the Bench to issue notice to the Bar Association also so that its suggestions could also be received.

The standing counsel also suggested shifting the oath commissioners seats to some place outside the main building for the sake of security as a large number of people enter the area for getting their affidavits attested.

Issuing notice to the Bar Association, the Bench observed that let it give its views on all issues raised in the PIL.

He had added anybody pretending to be a government officer could get unrestricted entry through gates. Moreover, the entry is at will after lunch for all visitors. Any mischievous element can just enter the High Court premises after posing as an advocate by wearing a black coat and a white-collar band.

Laxity in the security system can pose a serious threat to the life and liberty of innocent citizens, including lawyers and the staff of the High Court. The petitioner had further contended: “There is a dire need to strengthen the security system and to make it fool proof as far as possible on the pattern of the Supreme Court of India after due consultation with the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association and the High Court on its administrative side.”

The PIL will now come up for further hearing on November 10.

Lax security

Referring to the security system in the High Court, the petitioner contended it was quite lax and anybody could enter from the gate on the pretext of getting an affidavit attested from an oath commissioner. Moreover, the entry is at will after lunch for all visitors. Any mischievous element can just enter the High Court premises after posing as an advocate by wearing a black coat and a white-collar band.

pec scam
11 students file bail plea
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13
Eleven students have filed bail applications in the special CBI court of Chandigarh in Punjab Engineering College (PEC) admission scam. The court has issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on their application.

Recently, the CBI had filed a chargesheet against main accused Dr Nishikant, co-accused Mohinder Bajaj and 11 students.

Nishikant had allegedly masterminded the case of forging identity cards to 11 Punjab Engineering College students, showing them as foreign students to get admission in PEC under the direct admission of students abroad (DASA) scheme.

On September 9, 2010, the CBI had arrested Dr Nishikant of Hisar, the mastermind of the alleged admission scam, which was unearthed at the Punjab Engineering College. The CBI had also registered a case against 11 students who were admitted on the basis of fake and forged documents.

If there can be Navi Mumbai, why not New Chandigarh, asks HC
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13
“If there can be Navi Mumbai, why not New Chandigarh,” observed the Punjab and Haryana High Court verbally while dismissing in limine or at the threshold a PIL questioning the move to name Mullanpur New Chandigarh.

The petition filed by advocate-cum-social activist Pankaj Chandgothia was dismissed by the Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice RN Raina.

In his petition filed in public interest, Chandgothia had contended that GMADA in its brochure said: “The Eco City is being developed by GMADA, North of Chandigarh in the Greater Mohali Region in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur). “New Chandigarh is master planned as a spread out, low-population density settlement for 4,00,000 persons eventually with only 100 persons inhabiting an acre. Set in the picturesque backdrop of Shivalik Hills….”

Chandgothia added that some private builders were blatantly using the name “New Chandigarh” for their projects at Mullanpur, in an attempt to mislead the entire world and gain undue commercial profits.

Elaborating the reasons behind throwing the challenge, Chandgothia asserted Chandigarh had come to acquire a special status and significance because of the history and development of the City Beautiful.

As such, no other town, city or village or any piece of land in India can be named anything similar to Chandigarh, especially when the area falls in the city’s periphery.

Chandgothia had contended that Chandigarh’s name had a “constitutional” history and sanctity. Its special status has been recognised by Acts of Parliament.

Even the “New York Times” eulogised Chandigarh in an article published on April 25, 1982. It read: “To see Chandigarh is to see India in a new way. In a country living on the glories of the past while suffering the deprivations of the present, Chandigarh offers a rare glimpse of a future hope.”

CRIME

Thieves decamp with jewellery, cash
Tribune Reporters

Panchkula, October 13
Burglars decamped with goods worth over Rs 1 lakh, including cash, from a house in Sector 19 here yesterday. The family was away to Jalandhar.

In his complaint, Arun Vinayak said he, along with other family members, had gone to Jalandhar. He said his neighbours informed him about the incident. On return, he found his house ransacked. He added that cash, jewellery, two gas cylinders, clothes and even gifts were stolen.

Canter hits cop on duty, driver flees

Kharar: Dala Massi, a highway patrol police head constable posted at Kharar, was injured after a canter hit him while he was stopping it on the Kharar highway late last night.

The injured constable was admitted to the PGI where he is being treated for sustaining fractures in the ribs. The police today registered an attempt to murder case against driver Tarlochan Singh, a resident of Kurali.

The incident took place around 12 am when the victim along with the police team was patrolling near the bus stand when a passerby informed them that the canter (CH03R 4665) was coming from Mohali side had hit a rehri rickshaw in Mohali.

After getting the information, the police team laid a naka and gave a signal to the canter driver to stop but he did not and hit Dala Massi while he tried to stop it.

The police team immediately rushed the injured constable to Civil Hospital, Kharar, where the doctors referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh, for the treatment.

However, the driver of the canter managed to flee from the spot leaving behind the vehicle.

The SHO, Kharar, stated that canter was impounded and an attempt to murder case was registered against the driver of the canter.

Chain snatched

Panchkula: Snatchers again targeted an elderly woman in Panchkula and decamped with her gold chain.

The incident took place on Thursday evening in Sector 8 when Sheela Devi was standing outside her house no. 477. The police said the two snatchers, who were on a motorcycle, snatched her chain and fled from the spot. The victim was not able to note down the motorcycle’s number. An FIR has been registered in this regard.

Couple booked for fraud
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13
The economic offences wing of the Chandigarh Police booked a couple residing in Sector 40 for immigration fraud.

Hira Singh, a resident of Babehali village, Gurdaspur, complained to the police that Mukesh Sharma, a resident of Sector 40-A, duped him of Rs 18 lakh on the promise of sending him abroad.

Hira Singh alleged that he read an advertisement in a newspaper regarding easy migration to Canada and contacted Mukesh Sharma and Lovely, both residents of Sector 40.

The duo took him to their house where they took Rs 18 lakh from him. However, the duo failed to send him abroad and didn’t return the money.

The police has arrested Mukesh Sharma in a case of cheating under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC at the Sector 39 police station.

SPORTS

India vs england ODI
Sale of tickets to resume today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13
After a delay in the distribution and dispatch of tickets for the upcoming third ODI, the selling of tickets to all outlets was delayed today. The match will be played between India and England at the PCA Cricket Stadium Mohali on October 20.

Officials said the students, chair and VIP Block tickets were in great demand. The tickets will be sold at Central Bank of India, Sector 15, 32 and 35 in Chandigarh, Sector 10 in Panchkula and Sector 70 Mohali will start at 10 am tomorrow.

The Indian and English team will arrive here from Delhi on October 18.