Fatehgarh Sahib, October 25.
Illegal colonies have mushroomed around the surrounding areas of Fatehgarh Sahib and innocent people are falling in the trap of the illegal colonisers. GMADA, who is responsible to check the menace of illegal colonies have recommended action against the owners of two illegal colonies. Those affected alleged that the officials of GMADA are adopting pick and choose policy and those who greece their palms are spared, where as those, who do not are taken to task. They demanded implementation of law on every coloniser.

The additional chief administrator, GMADA, in his two separate letters to the SSP has recommended registering a case against one Netar Singh, resident of Samsher Nagar, and Gurmel Singh, Harpal Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Gurjit Singh and Mrs. Ajit Kaur, all residents of Samsher Nagar, allegedly for constructing illegal colony in Samsher Nagar without the permission of GMADA. He has mentioned that as per the report of the JE and assistant engineer these people have developed a colony and are selling the plots in illegal manner. An FIR should be registered against them. Interestingly, the officials of GAMADA did not mention the name of the colonies but mentioned only land numbers and individual names to save the skin of the colonisers.

Chandigarh, October 25
Just about four months after a seven-year-old met his watery grave in an uncovered manhole, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held the UT Administration liable; and has asked it to release an interim compensation of Rs50,000.

Taking up the petition filed by the Patiala-based Consumers’ Protection Association and victim’s father Raju Kumar, Justice K. Kannan asserted: “I would find the administration to be prima facie liable and direct Rs50,000 to be released to the petitioner within two weeks”.

Justice Kannan asserted the amount shall be released to the victim child’s father; and directed the filing of a compliance report. Before parting with the case, Justice Kannan fixed December 13 as the next date of hearing in the case.

Justice Kannan, on the previous date of hearing, had asked the UT Administration to show cause as to why an interim compensation of Rs2 lakh not be paid to the victim’s father.

In the petition against the UT Administration, Municipal Corporation, MC Chief Engineer and UT District Magistrate, the association had asserted “due to laxity on the part of the respondents in covering the manholes”, Raju’s seven-year-old son Gautam vanished into the death trap on June 8. He had gone pluck dates from a nearby tree, when the incident occurred.

Raju Kumar, hailing from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh and earning his livelihood as a cook, lodged a missing persons report with the Mauli Jagran police post after he and his wife failed to track him down.

Bringing under the spotlight the role of the police, counsel YP Singla added: The matter was also reported to Daria village police post as the area fell under its jurisdiction. But, the police officials stood as silent spectators and made no efforts, except for recording a formal daily diary report on June 9.

The petitioners added that the same morning an intimation was received by the police regarding the body of a child trapped in the wire mesh of a sewerage treatment plant some 50 meters away from the residence. The body was identified to be that of Gautam after it was fished out.

Seeking a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for Raju “on account of the tragic death”, the petitioners added all major newspapers, The Tribune included, gave vast coverage to the tragedy, but the incident evoked lukewarm response from the UT Administration.

“A few workers of the Municipal Corporation were seen hurriedly covering the open manholes,” the petitioners added. “Not even a single word of condolence or sympathy came from the respondents, which shows its callousness with regard to the problems and loss to the residents of the city”.

Chandigarh, October 25
DS Shamsher did not live long enough to see justice come his way. Once a regional manager with the Punjab and Sind Bank, he had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the orders dismissing him from service. More than two decades later, the High Court has allowed his plea.

After Shamsher expired, his petition filed in 1991 was pursued by his legal representatives. In his petition, reflecting the pace with which the justice delivery system operates, Shamsher had sought quashing of an inquiry report and the order dismissing him from service dated February 7, 1990.

Another order rejecting his appeal dated June 26, 1990, was also challenged. Directions were also sought for quashing the part of an order dated July 24, 1990, denying him the benefit of leave encashment and gratuity. He was due to retire on July 31, 1988, when suddenly he was served a charge-sheet dated June 23, 1988, by the disciplinary authority. The allegations pertained to the bank's funds and subsidy available from the Government of India.

During the course of arguments, counsel for the petitioner submitted that Shamsher "was not allowed to avail the service of a lawyer, though the Presenting Officer detailed was legal man".

Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: "It is not in dispute that the Presenting Officer was legally qualified. Merely because he has done law long back and was an employee of the bank will not change the position or situation in any manner.

Justice Ranjit Singh said, "It can be said the petitioner was not given fair opportunity to defend himself, and in fact, prejudice would be writ large in this case as there was an unequal match between the parties.

"The writ petition is allowed. Impugned orders are set aside and the petitioner shall be entitled to all consequential benefits. Let the respondents release the gratuity, leave encashment and other benefits to his legal representatives within two months".

Chandigarh, October 25
A day after a local court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Dr Sangeeta Devi, one of the accused in abduction of princess of a province in Himachal Pradesh, bail plea of parents of the main accused Inderjit Singh Malik were also dismissed today by a local court. Inderjit’s parents; Surinder Malik and Paramjit Kaur, had filed a plea, in the court of Additional District And Session Judge.

The police is suspecting that Inderjit’s parents might have helped him in abducting the girl.

According to the police, Inderjit had abducted 16-year-old Durgeshwari from her school in Sector 9 on October 10. the police said that they had also stayed at a tourist cottage near Manali, for four days. Earlier, the court had rejected another anticipatory bail plea of Dr. Sangeeta Devi, who worked at PGIMER here and had allegedly assisted Inderjit in abducting the girl.

The police so far have failed to make headway in the case and have failed to trace the girl.

Chandigarh, October 25
Punjab cricket team defeated Jammu and Kashmir to qualify for the knock-out stage of the ongoing Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy being held at Rohtak today. In their last league match, Punjab defeated Jammu and Kashmir by five wickets to top the north zone league table.

After winning the toss, Jammu and Kashmir team decided to bat. Jammu and Kashmir set a target of 111 runs in the allotted slot. Parvez (25) and Iandev (21) were the main scorers for the team.

For Punjab, Bipul Sharma took two for 18, while Love Ablish, Barinder Kumar and Taruwar Kohli took one wicket each.

In reply, Punjab achieved the target with three balls in hand. Ishan Malhotra and Yuvraj Singh scored 27 runs each, while Mandeep Singh (26) remained unbeaten in the innings.

Chandigarh, October 25
Weightlifters of Government Model High School, Sector 43 (GMHS-43), secured first position during the Inter-School Weightlifting Championship being held here today.

Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 20, finished second, while Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, secured third position.

Results:

Boys (56 kg): Pancham, Gurkerit Singh, Chandan. 62 kg: Arjit Sharma, Karan Vashisht, Prince.