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TOP STORIES

Local Govt Dept fails to notify roads declared commercial 
Patiala, October 31
In what may be termed as A view of the Bhupindra Road market in Patiala unnecessary delay in issuing notifications for declaring at least 18 roads in the royal city of Patiala as "commercial", the Department of the Local Government, Punjab, has left the Patiala Municipal Corporation functionaries "furious". 

A view of the Bhupindra Road market in Patiala. A Tribune file photo

Rs 20 crore grant for PRTC okayed
Chandigarh, October 31
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today approved one-time grant of Rs 20 crore to the cash-strapped Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) to bail it out from its staggering liability on account of pension benefits accrued to its employees.




YOUR TOWN
Chandigarh



EARLIER STORIES



Board for scandal, lesson in nepotism
Mohali, October 31
The Establishment Committee of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) apparently ignored a better qualified candidate to facilitate the appointment of the daughter of Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon, Chairman of the board, as Director (Computers).





 

POLITICS

Karat, Bardhan to address Morcha’s Dhudike rally
Moga, October 31
The People’s Party of Punjab today confirmed that CPI leader AB Bardhan and CPM leader Prakash Karat would be among the senior Left leaders who would be addressing the Sanjha Morcha rally at Dhudike in Moga district on November 6.

PPP chief Manpreet Badal addresses mediapersons in Ludhiana. Poll to spring a surprise: PPP
Ludhiana, October 31
Claiming that major political parties (read the SAD-BJP coalition and the Congress) did not have any agenda for the people’s welfare, PPP chief Manpreet Badal today said the results of the assembly poll would spring a surprise.

PPP chief Manpreet Badal addresses mediapersons in Ludhiana. A Tribune photograph

Cong works out strategy to ensure unity
Chandigarh, October 31
The state Congress unit has formed secret committees, besides taking direct charge of hosting of all public meetings during the month-long Punjab Bachao Yatra starting from tomorrow to ensure lack of unity does not mar the mass contact programme.

SAD to open three memorials commemorating holocaust
Chandigarh, October 31
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) core committee today decided to inaugurate three memorials commemorating holocaust in the Sikh history next month.

Kabaddi, yatra to wrestle for political space
Chandigarh, October 31
The SAD-BJP and the Congress are all set for a face-off tomorrow with the former setting the tone for its election campaign with a feel-good factor in the form of Kabaddi World Cup laced with glamour and the Congress getting ready to put up a united front by holding public meetings to prove its strength.

COMMUNITY

Farmers seek easy process for getting permits
Patiala, October 31
Following complaints by farmers pertaining to the growing wild boar population in the state which destroys their crops, the Ministry of Wildlife is contemplating to make the process of hunting of wild boars easier. Though systematic culling was allowed in Punjab almost a couple of years ago, hunters have complained of a cumbersome procedure which discourages shooting this animal, thus causing loss to farmers.

Congress workers pay homage to former Prime Minister, late Indira Gandhi on her 27th death anniversary in Patiala
Congress workers pay homage to former Prime Minister, late Indira Gandhi on her 27th death anniversary in Patiala on Monday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Khalistan Tiger Force claims responsibility for Ambala RDX recovery 
Patiala, October 31
A little over a fortnight after a car packed with RDX was found abandoned at the Ambala railway station and the security agencies termed it to be a suspected handiwork of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a banned terror outfit, the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), has claimed the responsibility of the recovered explosives.

Machinery worth Rs 2.5 cr lying defunct in Rajindra Hospital
Patiala, October 31
Machines lying unused in the Eye Department of the Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Even as auhorities of the Government Rajindra Hospital here blame lack of funds for any lapses in the hospital, equipment worth crores meant for the Eye Department continues to lie on-functional in a locked room in the hospital. The authorities have not even bothered to take any action in this regard despite repeated complaints by the patients as well as the doctors.

Machines lying unused in the Eye Department of the Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Admission process to go online at Punjabi University
Patiala, October 31
With a view to facilitating college administration and students, Punjabi University, Patiala, has decided to computerise the Dean Colleges branch. This will not only provide all information online but will also make the entire functioning of university quicker.

Cabinet meet to decide fate of employees
Chandigarh, October 31
The Cabinet-Sub-Committee formed to look into the demands of the employees has submitted its report. The report would be debated in the next cabinet meeting scheduled for November 2 to give it a final shape. A senior government officials said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has assured employees that their genuine demands would be met.

Two IAS officers transferred 
Chandigarh, October 31
The state government today issued the posting and transfer orders of two IAS and one PCS officer. Satish Chandra, secretary, will now be secretary, planning and special economic package, and in addition ex-officio member secretary, social development. He will also look after the Governance Reforms Commission and in addition, assist the chief secretary in the implementation of the Right to Service Act.

Anti-doping team reaches Bathinda 
Bathinda, October 31
Performers rehearse for Tuesday’s inaugural ceremony in Bathinda. A team of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) reached Bathinda today for conducting dope tests on players participating in the Kabaddi World Cup. Dr Munish Chander, director, Anti-Doping Committee, Kabaddi World Cup, said a six-member team each had been assigned for pool A at Bathinda and pool B at Jalandhar.

Performers rehearse for Tuesday’s inaugural ceremony in Bathinda. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma 

Despite govt’s claims, game fails to keep youth off drugs
Gurdaspur, October 31
With the hype surrounding the Kabaddi World Cup reaching a crescendo, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s repeated assertions that the event’s primarily target was to wean youth off the scourge of drugs was not cutting much ice with the locals, at least in this border district.

Pargat Singh justifies high expenditure 
Bathinda, October 31
Punjab Sports Director Pargat Singh today justified the expenditure by the state on the second Kabaddi World Cup. Admitting that it was a "bit in excess", Pargat Singh, a hockey veteran, pointed out that the Union Government, too, had spent crores on hosting the recent Commonwealth Games in Delhi. "Then why can't the Punjab Government show a similar enthusiasm for kabaddi," he asked.

COURTS

HC: Courts can’t dictate to states on recruitments 
Chandigarh, October 31
Refusing to direct the State of Punjab to fill the vacancies of PCS (executive) and other officers, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that the courts cannot ask the States to hire or carry out recruitment process at regular intervals.

HC stays demolition of ancient monument
Chandigarh, October 31
Issuing notice of motion for November 8, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the alleged demolition of a 300-year-old mound in the complex of Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara.

CRIME

Ex-serviceman was illegally detained
Moga, October 31
The death of a 50-year-old ex-serviceman allegedly due to torture in police custody at the Fatehgarh Panchtoor police station in the district on Friday has exposed a case of alleged high-handedness of the state police.

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Local Govt Dept fails to notify roads declared commercial 
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 31
In what may be termed as unnecessary delay in issuing notifications for declaring at least 18 roads in the royal city of Patiala as "commercial", the Department of the Local Government, Punjab, has left the Patiala Municipal Corporation functionaries "furious". Sometime ago, as many as 18 roads in Patiala were declared as commercial but so far the Department of Local Government, Punjab, has not issued notification to this effect, due to which the civic body was not getting revenue in the form of Change of Land Use (CLU) charges. At the same time, the commercial activity was at standstill.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that as many as 18 roads, including the Sirhind Road, Rajpura Road, Leela Bhawan to Rajindra Hospital Road, Mall Road, Bhupindra Road and Lower Mall, were declared commercial. "However, it has been long time since these roads were declared commercial but on account of the fact that the Department of the Local Government, Punjab, has not issued the notification for the same, commercial activity on these roads has failed to pick up. At present, whatever commercial activity is on at these roads, it was old commercial establishments that came up in violation of the Land Use Change Policy", said sources in the civic body.

When contacted, Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli said if the government issues the notification, the civic body would generate funds to the tune of Rs 3 crore in the form of CLU charges.

Talking to The Tribune, senior civic functionaries said the main objective behind declaring these roads as commercial was to generate revenue in the form of the CLU charges and the composition fee to be charged from the commercial buildings that had come up on these roads illegally.

Kohli said the funds generated through the CLU charges could be utilised for the development of the city. "Patiala MC could be richer by several crores if the Department of Local Government issues the notification for declaring the 18 roads commercial", he said, adding that the powers to clear the CLU cases should be given to the head of the civic body in order to ensure that land use change process is streamlined.

Despite repeated attempts, Minister for Local Government, Punjab, Tikshan Sud was not available for comments. Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, SS Rajput retired today and the new incumbent is yet to take the charge.

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Rs 20 crore grant for PRTC okayed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today approved one-time grant of Rs 20 crore to the cash-strapped Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) to bail it out from its staggering liability on account of pension benefits accrued to its employees.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister in a meeting with the PRTC Workers’ Action Committee led by its convener Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal here today.

The Chief Minister directed the PRTC to utilise these funds to clear pension arrears due to its pensioners. He also called upon the Managing Director of PRTC to evolve an action plan to enhance the profitability of the corporation. Badal also gave in-principle approval to the proposal of transferring the land under the control of the state government departments to the PRTC on lease basis to generate additional funds.

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Board for scandal, lesson in nepotism
Disregarding a better qualified candidate, PSEB gives job to chairman’s daughter
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 31
The Establishment Committee of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) apparently ignored a better qualified candidate to facilitate the appointment of the daughter of Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon, Chairman of the board, as Director (Computers).

A former assistant professor at Khalsa College, Patiala, Navneet today joined her new assignment a day after her appointment was cleared by the committee in a special meeting held on Sunday. To fill the post, the seven-member committee interviewed Navneet Kaur, along with OP Gupta, Jaspal Singh and Rajpreet Kaur Jassa, who had been earlier shortlisted from 17 candidates.

A close scrutiny of the educational qualification of the candidates reveals that Gupta, presently Deputy Director, School of Information Technology (IT), Punjab Agricultural University, had 13 years of teaching experience compared to nine years of experience of Navneet. Though the post of Director (Computer) also requires administrative experience, the board did not ask for it and only asked for seven-year teaching experience of PG classes. Both the candidates have a PhD.

Though the board, while claiming transparency, posted the qualification of the candidates on its website, it did not post the detailed marks awarded for the qualification and the interview of the candidates. A few months ago, Navneet Kaur had applied for the post of Director (Academics). But the selection could not materialise as some controversy over the eligibility had surfaced. This is not the first time a controversy over the appointment of close relatives of the Chairman has surfaced. In yesterday’s board of members meeting of the PSEB, the two-month-old appointment of Amneet Kaur Mangat, the would-be daughter-in-law of Dr Dhillon, was also regularised.

New secretary takes charge

Dr Balwinder Singh, Principal, Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Batala, was joined as Secretary of the Board. The name of Dr Balwinder, a close associate of the Education Minister, was cleared while ignoring internal candidates. The board has also regularised the appointment of Sukhwinder Kaur Saroya as Controller of Examination.

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Karat, Bardhan to address Morcha’s Dhudike rally
Kulwinder Sandhu/TNS

Moga, October 31
The People’s Party of Punjab today confirmed that CPI leader AB Bardhan and CPM leader Prakash Karat would be among the senior Left leaders who would be addressing the Sanjha Morcha rally at Dhudike in Moga district on November 6.

Speaking to The Tribune after the state executive meeting of the PPP held under the leadership of ex-Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, a senior leader of the party, Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, claimed that the Dhudike event would be one of biggest public rallies in recent political history of the state.

Fearing the state government may try to prevent their supporters from reaching the venue, Dhillon said the SAD leadership appeared to be in “panic” after the formation of the Sanjha Morcha. Claiming the people were looking for a third alternative, he said: “We are the best alternative and the people should believe in us for a better future of the state.” 

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Poll to spring a surprise: PPP
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, October 31
Claiming that major political parties (read the SAD-BJP coalition and the Congress) did not have any agenda for the people’s welfare, PPP chief Manpreet Badal today said the results of the assembly poll would spring a surprise.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Manpreet, former Finance Minister, said the people not only in Punjab but across the country were “fed up with the misrule” of the major political parties. "A wave of change is about to sweep the entire nation and Punjab will be no exception…. The masses in Punjab are pinning their hopes on the PPP, which alone can fight corruption and deliver good governance,” he said.

Manpreet, who has joined hands with the Left parties and SAD Dal (Longowal) to form the Sanjha Morcha, said the "Izzat Sambhal Yatra" of the morcha would be launched from Dhudike, the native village of Lala Lajpat Rai on November 6. "The yatra will also mark commencement of the election campaign of the Sanjha Morcha. The PPP manifesto and the morcha’s CMP will also be announced at the Dhudike rally," he said.

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Cong works out strategy to ensure unity
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
The state Congress unit has formed secret committees, besides taking direct charge of hosting of all public meetings during the month-long Punjab Bachao Yatra starting from tomorrow to ensure lack of unity does not mar the mass contact programme.

Earlier public meetings, addressed by both Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and party general secretary and state incharge Gulchain Singh Charak, had witnessed squabbles and slogan shouting between rival candidates vying for party ticket.

The party is determined not to let this happen again and wants to show a united front. Thus, it has been decided that the Pradesh Congress will decide who will sit on the stage during each public meeting as well as the stage secretary and the list of speakers.

Party Vice-President Lal Singh, when questioned on this issue, said friction had been witnessed in the past on the issue of seating on the stage as well as the list of speakers. “By centralising this process we hope to remove the grounds for discontent between rival leaders”, he added.

Meanwhile party sources said three-member secret committees had been formed for each of the 117 assembly constituencies in the state. The secret committees that have been formed by the Pradesh Congress have been given the task of evaluating the contribution of each ticket hopeful in organising the public meetings. The committees will also monitor the role of various leaders and record attempts at subversion if any.

Sources said the party was earlier taking the help of video cameras to record the participation of various leaders in public meetings. There was however a feeling that a more detailed and accurate account needed to be prepared which would be taken into account while deciding party ticket. 

Action plan

The PCC will decide on the stage secretary, list of speakers and who will sit on the dais during each public meeting

Three-member secret committees have been formed for each of the 117 assembly constituencies in the state

The contribution of each ticket aspirant in organising public meetings to be evaluated by these committees

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SAD to open three memorials commemorating holocaust
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) core committee today decided to inaugurate three memorials commemorating holocaust in the Sikh history next month.

Two “ghallughara” (holocaust) memorials will be inaugurated on November 28 at Kahnuwan in Gurdaspur district and on November 29 at Koperhera in Sangrur district. The memorial in the honour of Sikh warrior Banda Singh Bahadur will be inaugurated on November 30 at Chhaparchiri in Mohali district.

The core committee also decided to wait for the Prime Minister to give his assent to inaugurate the Khalsa Heritage Centre, also in November. Earlier, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had invited the PM to inaugurate the centre and also announced that the PM would do so.

However, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh has requested the PM not to inaugurate the centre, saying this had already been done earlier. The core committee congratulated the government for successful paddy procurement despite the minimum purchase by the Food Corporation of India.

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Kabaddi, yatra to wrestle for political space
SAD-BJP combine, Cong to kick off programmes from Bathinda today
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
The SAD-BJP and the Congress are all set for a face-off tomorrow with the former setting the tone for its election campaign with a feel-good factor in the form of Kabaddi World Cup laced with glamour and the Congress getting ready to put up a united front by holding public meetings to prove its strength.

Though the SAD has “cleverly” invited all legislators to the Kabaddi World Cup, starting from November 1 in Bathinda, it is using the event to create a positive atmosphere for unleashing its election campaign. The combine is hoping that hosting of the cup will help it to counter the anti-incumbency factor.

The Congress, which had earlier been accused of taking it slow, has finally decided to revv up the tempo so that it peaks at the right time. Though the party had earlier decided to hold a traditional yatra, it will now be holding public meetings for one month all over the state.

Sources said getting people together for the public meetings would be much easier as all candidates vying for party ticket would be at work to mobilise support in their constituencies.

Senior party leader Lal Singh said the public meetings would make it clear that the days of the SAD-BJP rule were numbered, besides encouraging Congress workers to come out and face the Akalis boldly in the coming elections.

The SAD, on its part, is pulling out all stops to make the kabaddi event a resounding success. It is trying to reach out to the rural poor through the games as most of the players come from socially backward families. Senior party leader Prem Singh Chandumajra denies that the cup is aimed at achieving political mileage, saying the government is only promoting the sport which is associated with the culture of the state. He, however, claims that the success of the first cup and the hosting of the second one has mobilised the youth in favour of the SAD. “We are giving hope to the poor by giving them jobs on merit,” he says, adding this was never done during the Congress government.

The kabaddi event is also aimed at boosting the image of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. The tournament will give him a chance to improve his connect with the masses and project him as a leader who can take on Capt Amarinder Singh.

The Congress, however, will not let things be easy for Sukhbir Badal, who will be targeted at public meetings for turning the sport into a “self-glorification exercise”.

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Hunting of wild boars
Farmers seek easy process for getting permits
Aman Sood/TNS

Patiala, October 31
Following complaints by farmers pertaining to the growing wild boar population in the state which destroys their crops, the Ministry of Wildlife is contemplating to make the process of hunting of wild boars easier. Though systematic culling was allowed in Punjab almost a couple of years ago, hunters have complained of a cumbersome procedure which discourages shooting this animal, thus causing loss to farmers.

The state government had issued a notification allowing hunting of wild boar (Sus Scrofa) for self consumption in December 2009.

According to a letter issued by the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, 13 towns falling in six districts of Punjab would be open for hunting of wild boars. “Sub-Divisional Magistrates having territorial jurisdiction over the following sub-divisions of the state are authorised officers within their respective territorial jurisdiction for the purpose of Section 11 (1) (b) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to issue permits to kill wild boars”, says the notification.

Interestingly, the SDMs can only issue a permit if the village panchayat passes a resolution against damage to their crops by the animal and following this, the SDM can issue a permit. “We are given a permit for only a particular village while the animal crosses to another village when chased”, said a hunter from Patiala, who rues to have bagged 20 permits in 20 different villages in a single district.

The farmers in areas of Mukerian, Dasuya and Garshankar (district Hoshiarpur), Balachaur (district Nawanshahr), Dhar, Dera Baba Nanak (district Gurdaspur), Ropar, Anandpur Sahib and Kharar (district Ropar), Ajnala, Tarn Taran, Patti (district Amritsar) and Ludhiana are worst affected.

Former Wildlife Advisory Board Member Harditt Singh Sidhu said the number of wild boars needs to be culled in the interest of economic activity as the number of wild boars in certain parts of the state had increased considerably thus causing loss to farmers. “Farmers are usually poor and they cannot afford mechanism to keep these animals out of bound or shoot them”, he added.

Punjab Minister for Forests and Wildlife Arunesh Shakar said he would look into the matter and initiate steps to grant licence and permits with ease and over a larger area. “We cannot allow these animals to destroy crops as their population has increased too much”, he told TNS.

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Khalistan Tiger Force claims responsibility for Ambala RDX recovery 
Says prominent Delhi-based politician was the target 
Aman Sood
Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 31
A little over a fortnight after a car packed with RDX was found abandoned at the Ambala railway station and the security agencies termed it to be a suspected handiwork of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a banned terror outfit, the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), has claimed the responsibility of the recovered explosives.

While the KTF had shot an email to selected scribes in India and abroad a couple of days before Diwali, the intelligence agencies now confirm to have received the letter in which the organisation has staked claim for the haul. “Our prime target was never the common public, as was being said by the police and intelligence units but was a Delhi-based politcian accused of 1984 anti-Sikh riots”, reads the letter, a copy of which is with the TNS.

However officials in the police department confirmed that though KTF has taken responsibility, they are still probing as to what took them so long in claiming the RDX. “This clearly shows that there is something suspicious behind all this, but we cannot rule out anything as of now”, said a senior police officer probing this case.

The police is also probing the origin of the email that was sent under the hand and seal of wanted terrorist Jagtar Singh Tara.

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Machinery worth Rs 2.5 cr lying defunct in Rajindra Hospital
Gagan K. Teja
Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 31
Even as auhorities of the Government Rajindra Hospital here blame lack of funds for any lapses in the hospital, equipment worth crores meant for the Eye Department continues to lie on-functional in a locked room in the hospital. The authorities have not even bothered to take any action in this regard despite repeated complaints by the patients as well as the doctors.

Sources in the hospital informed that the machinery, which was donated to the hospital by a London-based NGO, Site Savers, is worth Rs 2.5 crore. Although it was meant for the OPD, it has been lying locked in a dusty room for the past few months now. “This machinery was donated about six years ago but it has been used only for six months. The machinery was shifted from the OPD to indoor on the pretext that it would be used once the department gets resubstitution equipment. Since then, neither the department has proposed to buy any such equipment, nor this machinery has been installed. It has been lying in a non-AC room whereas the machinery has to be kept at a temperature less than 25 degrees Celsius,” he added.

After repeated complaints by the patients arriving at the Eye Department, nearly 20 organisations working for the public cause formed a five-member Rajindra Hospital Bachao Action Committee and had met Principal Dr KD Singh in this regard. He had directed the department to shift the machinery in the OPD and make it functional but even after two months, no action has been taken from the department’s side.

Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Manjeet Kaur Mohi informed that there was a leakage in the OPD during rainy season and therefore they had disconnected power supply but she had got the room unlocked today and within one week she would try to get the machinery installed.

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Admission process to go online at Punjabi University
Gagan K. Teja
Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 31
With a view to facilitating college administration and students, Punjabi University, Patiala, has decided to computerise the Dean Colleges branch. This will not only provide all information online but will also make the entire functioning of university quicker.

Talking to The Tribune, Dean Colleges of the university, Dr JA Khan informed that this project would be initiated under the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Dr Jaspal Singh, and would be executed in two phases.

“In the first phase, we will computerise entire information of rules and regulations regarding affiliation of the colleges. We will have information of UGC schemes and the terms and conditions of applying for various courses online.

Moreover, we will display all important notices and instructions online so as to make the process quick. Sending fax and letters often consumed lot of time and was a very tedious process. Therefore, this will certainly make things quicker and simpler,” he added.

He further informed that in the second phase they would make the provision of applying for various courses online.

“This will be crucial because it will help students to apply for various courses online and university to sort all applications. This first phase will be launched within a month and we are creating a website,” added Dr Khan.

Students have given thumbs up to this decision stating that it would save a lot of time and effort that goes in personally visiting colleges and university for inquiring about the courses and eligibility criteria. “Also, students coming from far-off villages have to spend lot of money in travelling to the colleges just to find out the process of applying. This would certainly end all these problems,” added Sukhvinder Singh from Gidderbaha village.

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Cabinet meet to decide fate of employees
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
The Cabinet-Sub-Committee formed to look into the demands of the employees has submitted its report. The report would be debated in the next cabinet meeting scheduled for November 2 to give it a final shape. A senior government officials said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has assured employees that their genuine demands would be met.

Badal gave the assurance to a deputation of Punjab Mulazim Sangarash Committee led by its convener Ranbir Dhillon here at Punjab Bhawan this morning.

Badal also asked the Chief Secretary to bring a proposal for the regularisation of remaining eligible work charged employees working in Punjab Health System Corporation, C-PYTE and Irrigation department as per the stipulated guidelines.

The CM also assured the deputation that the advice relating to accident claims involving the drivers of all government vehicles to be borne by the state in future, would be issued within a day. This significant step would provide a major relief to the drivers, especially of Punjab Roadways, PRTC and other government departments, as it would not be a personal liability of the drivers any more as it had been till now. 

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Two IAS officers transferred 

Chandigarh, October 31
The state government today issued the posting and transfer orders of two IAS and one PCS officer. Satish Chandra, secretary, will now be secretary, planning and special economic package, and in addition ex-officio member secretary, social development. He will also look after the Governance Reforms Commission and in addition, assist the chief secretary in the implementation of the Right to Service Act.

Satwant Singh has been transferred as commissioner for persons with disabilities relieving Gurkirat Kirpal Singh of this additional charge.

Likewise, the services of Rajiv Kumar Gupta, PCS, Assistant Commissioner (General), Patiala, are placed at the disposal of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for appointment as Estate Officer, GMADA, SAS Nagar, in place of JC Sabbarwal. — TNS

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kabaddi world cup begins today
Anti-doping team reaches Bathinda 
To conduct dope tests on suspected players
Megha Mann/TNS

Bathinda, October 31
A team of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) reached Bathinda today for conducting dope tests on players participating in the Kabaddi World Cup. Dr Munish Chander, director, Anti-Doping Committee, Kabaddi World Cup, said a six-member team each had been assigned for pool A at Bathinda and pool B at Jalandhar. “The matches of women teams are being held from November 10 onwards, hence we will also depute our team for the same later on,” he said. The NADA teams will travel with the respective pool teams to the match venues.

Samples of suspected players would be collected right after the matches and sent to the National Dope Testing Laboratory, New Delhi. “A player can be repeated the next day to ensure strictness woven in the procedure,” said Dr Munish.

After every match, a chaperone will navigate players to the doping control station. Each station will have two rooms marked as waiting room and processing room. No one would be allowed to exit these rooms without permission. At the waiting room, players would only be provided mineral water and sealed juices.

Thereafter, in the procedure room four perons would be present, the athlete, official accompanying him/her, a witness doping control officer and a record-keeping officer. Samples would be collected in the presence of these officials.

Results of these samples would be out within 48 hours and if any player was found positive, action would be initiated as per the protocol, Dr Munish, who was also the director, doping control, Commonwealth Games held at Delhi last year. “Firstly, it would be seen if the player has sought any kind of therapeutic exemption. After going through the reasons given, further course of action would be decided,” he added.

In October, 51 samples of the Indian team were collected during trials and sent to the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL). Around 20 tested positive and were consequently disqualified for two years.

No hope for dope

Results of dope samples to be out within 48 hours

If any player is found positive, action will be initiated as per protocol

As many as 51 samples of Indian players were collected during trials

Around 20 tested positive and were consequently disqualified for two years

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Despite govt’s claims, game fails to keep youth off drugs
Ravi Dhaliwal/TNS

Gurdaspur, October 31
With the hype surrounding the Kabaddi World Cup reaching a crescendo, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s repeated assertions that the event’s primarily target was to wean youth off the scourge of drugs was not cutting much ice with the locals, at least in this border district.

Notably, the long and porous border that Gurdaspur shares with Pakistan has been acting as a catalyst for narco-smugglers to bring in dope from across the border.

Gurdaspur would be hosting a match on November 3.

Last year as well when the championship was held at various places in Punjab, Sukhbir had said the event would prove to be a “boon for thousands of misguided youth who are high on an assortment of drugs”. However, statistics gathered from various sources, including the government-aided Red Cross Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, suggest that there has been a 15 to 20 per cent increase in the consumption of drugs in the district.

Says Romesh Mahajan, project director of the local Red Cross De-addiction Centre: “Kabaddi or no kabaddi, the situation is really becoming painful with statistics revealing that thousands of youth are hooked on drugs, which include poppy husk, opium, psychotropic substances, cough syrups and even typewriter fluid. The porous border with Pakistan is one of the major reasons why drugs infiltrate into this district. The police has not been able to do much. I have reports that every third youngster in Majha is hooked on drugs.”

Experts opine that this is symbolic of the situation in entire Majha where many NGOs are working hard to nip the dope habit in the bud but they admit that “they are fighting a battle which they will ultimately lose”. 

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Pargat Singh justifies high expenditure 
Gurdeep Singh Mann/TNS

Bathinda, October 31
Punjab Sports Director Pargat Singh today justified the expenditure by the state on the second Kabaddi World Cup. Admitting that it was a "bit in excess", Pargat Singh, a hockey veteran, pointed out that the Union Government, too, had spent crores on hosting the recent Commonwealth Games in Delhi. "Then why can't the Punjab Government show a similar enthusiasm for kabaddi," he asked.

Singh, who was in Bathinda to oversee preparations for the event, claimed kabaddi and hockey were the only two popular games in Punjab. "The expenditure on entertainment alongside kabaddi is also the need of the hour." He also refuted allegations that the Punjab Government was only promoting one sport for its own benefits.

The Sports Director said companies like DLF, Pearl, Trident and a few others were sponsoring the event this time. "Money to the tune of Rs 10 crore is likely to be collected from sponsorships," he said. Pargat Singh said nearly 25,000 people were expected to watch the inaugural ceremony. 

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HC: Courts can’t dictate to states on recruitments 
Saurabh Malik/TNS

Chandigarh, October 31
Refusing to direct the State of Punjab to fill the vacancies of PCS (executive) and other officers, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that the courts cannot ask the States to hire or carry out recruitment process at regular intervals.

The ruling by the Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Rajiv Narain Raina came on a petition filed by Karam Singh against the State of Punjab and other respondents.

In his petition, Karam Singh had earlier sought issuance of directions to the State of Punjab “to make regular recruitment to posts like PCS (Executive), as is being done by the Union Public Service Commission and other neighbouring States”.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Anmol Rattan Sidhu had placed reliance on Articles 38 and 39 of the Constitution and argued that the policy of the State should be directed towards securing the citizens' right to adequate means of livelihood and also to secure a social order for promotion and welfare of the people. The Bench observed: “It may be true that in the State of Punjab, the posts of PCS (Executive) and allied services are not being filled, but there may be numerous reasons for not doing so.”

The Bench added: “Firstly, the directive principles of State Policy in Articles 38 & 39 (A) are not enforceable, as they are guidelines for the State to frame its policy to achieve the aforesaid goal. Secondly, the right to adequate means of livelihood would not be fulfilled by filling the post of PCS (Executive), as there are large number of other posts in the State which are also required to be filled.”

12 IPS posts vacant: DGP 

Hoshiarpur: There is a shortage of about 12 Indian Police Services officers in Punjab. And the state government had already written in this regard to the Union Home Ministry, DGP Anil Kaushik said this here on Monday. Kaushik, who was at the Police Recruits Training Centre in Jahan Khelan, 8 km from here, said 5,000 new constables were being recruited. — OC

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HC stays demolition of ancient monument
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31
Issuing notice of motion for November 8, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the alleged demolition of a 300-year-old mound in the complex of Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara.

The directions by the Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Rajiv Narain Raina came on a petition filed by Chandigarh-based advocate Tekwinder Singh. Seeking issuance of directions to immediately stop the destruction of the ancient monument of religious and architectural significance, he contended it was existing as ruins of Shahi Quila, Sirhind, which was destroyed by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in 1710.

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custodial death
Ex-serviceman was illegally detained
Kulwinder Sandhu/TNS

Moga, October 31
The death of a 50-year-old ex-serviceman allegedly due to torture in police custody at the Fatehgarh Panchtoor police station in the district on Friday has exposed a case of alleged high-handedness of the state police.

Investigations by The Tribune reveal that the deceased, Surjit Singh, working as a security guard with BSNL, was illegally taken into police custody as no criminal case was registered against him.

Though the police claims he was picked up for questioning in a theft case, the fact is that the theft case in question was registered against unknown persons on October 29, a day after his death.

Yog Raj, assistant executive engineer, BSNL, had complained to the police that 24 power batteries used in a mobile tower, where Surjit was deployed were stolen.

The police, instead of registering an FIR, picked up the guard and allegedly tortured him, which led to his death on October 28.

A case of murder was registered on the same day against Gurjant Singh, SHO; Charanjit Singh, head constable; Bikkar Singh, home guard jawan; Yog Raj, SDO, BSNL; and Ram Krishan, a lineman of BSNL, on the complaint of the victim’s brother.

Moreover, the functioning of the police could well be judged from the fact that the SDO and the lineman who gave the complaint of theft have also been booked on the charges of murder even as they were not present in the police station when the guard died.

Moreover, the FIR was registered on their complaint one day after the death.

Meanwhile, Sneh Deep Sharma, SSP, said the alleged accused, SHO and other policemen, had been sent to the police lines. Sources revealed that the SHO was still misusing his office to negotiate a compromise with the deceased’s family members.

Even as no FIR was registered against him, the police picked up Surjit Singh and allegedly tortured him which led to his death in the police station on October 28

Besides three policemen, two BSNL employees, who gave a complaint of theft, have also been booked on the charges of murder even as a case of theft was registered a day after his death 

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