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HC acquits Thandal in graft case
Petition on VB’s powers admitted
PIL on VB chief’s transfer declined
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EGC teachers block national highway again
Road accidents on the rise in Punjab
SAD-BJP almost reach Pact on seat-sharing
Clean water their sole demand
CPI wants polling in single phase
Dump yard key environmental issue here
Congress poll panel to meet next week
Over 150 birds found dead; probe ordered
Development in Fatehgarh Sahib on backburner
Textbook scam: Officials to be chargesheeted
Punjab docs to stage protest on Dec 22
Undertake cadre review, CAT tells Punjab
SBoP fraud: Police marks inquiry
Qadian-Beas rail project approved
Six petrol stations looted
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HC acquits Thandal in graft case
The orders of his acquittal by Justice Gurdev Singh came on an appeal filed by Thandal against the lower court orders. On May 3, a Mohali court had sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment. He was also asked to pay a fine of Rs 25, 000. After his conviction, Thandal had resigned from the CPS post. An MLA from Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur district, Thandal was booked eight years ago by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in Mohali. Thandal, a Cabinet Minister in the Badal government between 1997and 2002, was accused of acquiring properties disproportionate to his known sources of income. In his appeal, Thandal had submitted that daily allowance was not included while calculating his total income. The total amount received as DA was Rs 1,90,700. “The difference between the total expenditure and the total income after taking into account the above amount would be reduced to Rs 2,48,280, thus bringing the case within the accepted variation of 10 per cent,” his counsel had argued.
Petition on VB’s powers admitted
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for quashing the Punjab Government’s circular of March 6, 2000, which ‘severely curtailed the powers of the Vigilance Bureau’.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gagoi and Justice Surya Kant also directed that the petition filed in public interest by advocate HC Arora be listed on 19 January next for regular hearing. It will now come up for hearing along with another PIL filed by Arora for a similar relief against the State of Haryana. Arora claimed that the Government had set up two committees, one for considering vigilance complaints against gazetted Class-I officers and the second for other government employees. The petitioner contended, “The Vigilance Bureau cannot initiate preliminary inquiry against any public servant on its own, without the case being cleared by one of the committees and the approval of the state government.”
PIL on VB chief’s transfer declined
Declining to entertain a PIL for transferring Vigilance Bureau chief Sumedh Singh Saini, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted the petitioner the liberty to file a fresh petition in public interest for issuance of guidelines for appointment of the Vigilance Bureau’s chief director.
The Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gagoi and Justice Surya Kant today declined to entertain the PIL filed by advocate HC Arora seeking Saini’s transfer to some other equivalent non-public dealing post, on the based of a criminal case going on against him in the Court of CBI Special Judge in Delhi. Arora contended that charges were framed against Saini on December 6, 2006.
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EGC teachers block national highway again
Gidderbaha, December 13 Giving a slip to the intelligence and security agencies, nearly 50 protesters assembled on a bridge over the canal and raised slogans against the state government. Two members of the union, Kulvir Singh, state general secretary, and Nachattar Singh, vice-president of Ludhiana district, tried to jump into the canal after crossing over the railings of the bridge, a police party reached the spot and stopped them from doing so. The police used some force and immediately called senior officials of the district administration to pacify the protesters. Gidderbaha SDM Pushpinder Singh Kailey reached the spot and tried to convince the protesters that they should not take any wrong step. Meanwhile,Members of the Guest Faculty Lecturers' Union, Punjab, (Government Colleges) today met Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal at his residence at Badal village, who assured them to look into their demands.
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Road accidents on the rise in Punjab
Ludhiana district has been on the top for witnessing maximum number of accidents. The major reasons cited for the drastic increase in road accidents include an increase in the number of vehicles on roads, usage of mobile phones while driving, rash driving and drunken driving. According to the latest figure on road accidents available with the state government, in 1980, 472 persons were killed and 836 were injured. While the latest figures in 2009 show that 3,668 persons killed in Punjab while 4,486 got injured in various accidents. Ludhiana district witnessed maximum number of road accidents followed by Patiala, Jalandhar
Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib. Being the border district of Punjab, Amritsar witnessed minimum number of road accidents. Ishwar Singh, IG, Jalandhar zone, said the major reason for the rise in accidents was a drastic increase in the number of vehicles. “The high-speed or luxury vehicles have added to the rise in fatal road accidents in the recent times. Secondly, many of the over-loaded buses have also met with fatal accidents in which a number
of persons have lost lives. Speed needs to be controlled at any cost,” the IG said. He added that during foggy days, much precautions were needed to be taken while driving. Dr MS Sidhu, Head, department of economics and sociology, Punjab Agriculture University, said in 1980, the number
of vehicles in Punjab was 3.6 lakh, while today it had reached to 52.74 lakh, which is about 15 times higher. “These factors add to the miseries. Secondly, usage of mobile phones while driving is also dangerous, people lose control over their vehicles, which results in accidents,” Dr Sidhu added.
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Chandigarh, December 13 The BJP will contest 23 seats. It will give up its claim on the Garshankar seat in lieu of the Ludhiana (West) seat that the BJP has been demanding for its former president Rajinder Bhandari. The Batala and Amritsar (East) seats are likely to be bartered too. In the entire exercise, Akali leaders who owed allegiance to former SGPC president GS Tohra have been idelined, causing much resentment. To suppress murmurs of protest, SAD president Sukhbir Badal has issued a stern warning against airing grievances in public. Senior BJP leaders, including Shanta Kumar and JP Nadda are in Chandigarh and have met several party workers. A delegation from Batala that met the BJP national leaders have opposed giving away the Batala seat to the SAD that it has won five times in the past. The BJP has 20 municipal councillors in the Batala MC. The SAD is keen on Batala because one seat in Gurdaspur district has been reserved and another reduced. This is bound to affect SAD ministers Sucha Singh Langha and Sewa Singh Sekhwan. Though the Ludhiana (West) seat vacated by Harish Rai Dhanda is primarily a Sikh constituency, won by the Akalis twice in the past three elections, Bhandari is keen to contest from here. There is speculation that the local Akali leadership may threaten to revolt against the BJP nominee. There is a feeling that the SAD patron and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has not forgiven the Tohra loyalists for breaking away from the party. Gradually, all Tohra loyalists have been rendered irrelevant even though they have stood by Badal after the Badal and Tohra patch-up. Shanta Kumar, who met party MLAs and workers throughout the day, told mediapersons that the exchange of seats was under active consideration, but a final decision would be taken shortly. The BJP leadership is preparing for a two-day conclave on December 23 and 24 at Jalandhar. A rally will be held on December 24 that will be attended by national leaders LK Advani, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Sawraj. This is expected to help mobilise the BJP cadres before the elections.
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Chief Minister meets MLA Kang again
Amritsar, December 13 This was Badal’s second meeting with Kang within a span of six months after the latter expressed support for PPP leader Manpreet Singh Badal. However, the CM insisted that it was a personal visit. “Being related to Kang, I came to see his ailing mother,” he maintained. Kang, who had won the Beas seat in 2007 on the SAD ticket, had shown interest in fighting elections from the Majitha constituency. Kang would have to vacate the Beas seat after it was declared reserved post-delimitation. Kang’s ambitions could prove dangerous for the SAD as Majitha is represented by none other than Bikram Singh Majithia, brother-in-law of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Majitha seems a natural choice for Kang as after the delimitation exercise, with his village Saran also made part of the Majitha constituency. Earlier,it was part of the constituency. Despite repeated attempts, Kang could not be contacted for comment.
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Clean water their sole demand
“The election issues being raised by various political leaders do not touch our lives. The politicians are only interested in attacking their rivals,” said a rather disappointed Tarsem Lal of Kaler village. “They speak of reviving agriculture, providing employment, healthcare on the doorstep, free power and water, flour at Rs 4 a kg and pulses at Rs 20 a kg. If this is not enough, they promise to make your city as beautiful as Paris. Election after election, its the same promises,” said a bitter Shamsher Singh, a teacher. In Faridkot, water, the elixir of life, is spewing diseases like cancer and hepatitis. Safe drinking water is the upmost demand of about 1,71,000 voters in the Faridkot assembly constituency. “ In their speeches, leaders do not touch core issues which impact our everyday life,” said Kartar Singh of Kameana village in Faridkot. “Clean drinking water has been our main demand for the past many years. Elections come and go.... the promises remain unkept,” said Manjit Singh of Kameana resident. "Releasing the manifesto is a mere formality. Copies of manifestos are seldom available at the election offices of political parties", said advocate Ashu Mittal. With the ground water containing high fluoride contents, Faridkot residents are forced to solely rely on the Sirhind feeder-the canal that has gained notoriety for its water carrying industrial effluents.
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CPI wants polling in single phase
Chandigarh, December 13 He said the commission should hold polling in a single phase. “Punjab is one of the most sensitive states and the Election Commission should be extra vigilant,” he said. On the distribution of seats among the coalition partners of the Sanjha Morcha headed by Manpreet Singh Badal, the CPI leader said the Left parties would contest about 30 seats. Some of the constituencies had already been allotted to the CPI and the CPM. Besides the CPI and the CPM, the Shiromani Akali Dal( Longowal) and the People’s Party of Punjab are part of the Morcha. Dayal said he would like the BSP to join the too. He said the CPI had been allotted Amritsar( West) and Amritsar(East), Majitha, Dinanagar, Sujanpur, Mukerian, Nabha, Lehragaga, Mansa, Jalallabad, Guru Harsahai, Nihalsinghwala, Payal and Malout. Besides it was eager to contest the Tarn Taran, Bhadaur, Kotkapura, Maur, Bathinda(rural)and Faridkot seats. He said the CPM had been allotted Anandpur Sahib, Garhshankar, Phillaur, Patti, Ghanure, Barnala, Raikot. It was likely to get either the Amargarh or Sunam seat.
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Dump yard key environmental issue here
The Amritsar (South) constituency has voted for change in all the four assembly elections held in the past two decades. However, the 2008 byelection was an exception with the voters backing the late MLA Raminder Singh Bolaria’s son Inderbir Singh. It will be a litmus test for Inderbir as he seeks a re-election on his performance in the past four years. He began his tenure on a positive note as the SAD left no stone unturned to ensure his victory with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal camping in the city for days ahead of the byelection.
Inderbir’s election then was a matter of prestige for the Akalis since it was the first electoral challenge after the party’s win in the 2007 poll. PROMISES AND
PROJECTS: Various development works like the eight-laning of the Taranwala bridge, covering of the Ganda Nullah, beautification of Sakatri Bagh and installation of 19 tubewells to boost water supply are underway in the area. The major unresolved issue in this constituency is that of the city’s main garbage dump yard at Bhaktanwala. The plan to set up a solid waste management plant to get rid of the garbage has been hanging fire for quite some time now. To tide over the problem, Bolaria opted for raising the boundary wall of the dump yard. His promise to provide relief to the residents by setting up a waste management plant remains unfulfilled. Sultanwind, which was included in this constituency following delimitation, is grappling with sewerage problem, with water bodies being used for waste disposal. Though a plan to commence work on the storm sewerage system for the area exists, the constituency was excluded from the multi-crore sewerage upgradation project which was to be executed with aid from Japan. His rivals are talking of his unkept promises in Bhaktanwal and Sultanwind. VOX POPULI: The opinion on Bolaria’s performance is divided. People in areas adjoining the main roads like the Tarn Taran road are content with the work undertaken during his tenure, but those living in the interior areas like Anngarh, Chhabal road, Sultanwind and Gujjarpura are not too happy. A section of voters also question the timing of these works as they have taken off at the fag-end of the SAD-BJP government’s tenure. “What has he been doing all these years? The works were either done at the time of the 2008 byelection or now when the assembly elections are approaching,” they say. There is a section of voters disillusioned with both the Congress and the SAD, contending that successive governments have done great injustice to the constituency. “We are still struggling to get our basic needs like sewerage and drinking water fulfilled,” said a local trader. Looking
Back: The Congress and the SAD have alternatively represented the assembly segment in the past two decades. In 1992, the seat was won by Maninderjit Singh Bitta, former AICC president, and in 1997 the seat went to former SGPC secretary Manjeet Singh Calcutta (SAD). In 2002, Congress’ Harjinder Singh Thekedar won the seat but lost it to the late Raminder Singh Bolaria (SAD) in the 2007 elections. Voter
strength: The constituency has 1.32 lakh voters, out of which 70,305 are men and 61,829 women voters. HRD
BAROMETER: No major initiatives have been taken to wean away youth from drugs or to generate employment opportunities. The dump yard is a key environmental issue in the constituency.
— TNS
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Congress poll panel to meet next week
Chandigarh, December 13 Party sources said once the Election Committee meets, it would forward a panel or a single name, as per the reports submitted by the observers, to the five-member screening committee. Sources said the Punjab Congress was keen to have 70-80 seats announced by December-end or the beginning of January. As the SAD-BJP has finalised most of their candidates who have informally begun campaigning, the PCC wants the first list out quickly. Vice-president Laal Singh said the party had already complained to the Election Commission against the blatant use of official machinery and had appealed for preponement of the elections.
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Over 150 birds found dead; probe ordered
Payal, December 13 Residents led by Baba Balwant Dass, organiser of Dera Baba Gazi Dass, coordinated with the administration in rescuing affected birds and buried bodies of the deceased avians. Investigations revealed that a large numbers of birds inhabiting a canopy of tree known as Lasara Jhiri near here had fallen unconscious following consumption of grains laced with poison yesterday. Had residents of the area, including devotees visiting Dera Baba Gazi Dass, not informed the authorities, all the affected birds could have died unattended. The incident came to light after some dogs dragged some unconscious birds outside the canopy of trees. Having received information about the incident, Rattan Singh Brar, DSP Payal, coordinated with authorities in the Forest Department and the Veterinary Department. A team of doctors led by in-charge of the Sehora Veterinary Dispensary Dr Iqbal Mohammad and Jagdev Singh undertook treatment of over 300 birds including sparrows, crows and peacocks. At least 11 peacocks and 150 crows were reportedly killed in the incident. Confirming that the birds had died due to consumption of poison-laced grains, the block forest officer Daljit Singh said a probe had been initiated to ascertain if the incident was handiwork of some miscreants or an accident. The guilty, once identified, will be booked. Condemning the incident, residents led by Baba Balwant Dass, Jathedar Mangat Rai Lasara, Pritam Singh Gill and Roop Singh Gill have demanded stern action against the perpetrators of the crime. Observations revealed that similar incidents had taken place in the region a few years ago too. Some nomads were earlier found to have tried to kill birds for flesh and collecting feathers. It is suspected that members of some gang supplying feathers of peacocks had allegedly tried to catch the birds by feeding them drug-laced grains.
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Development in Fatehgarh Sahib on backburner
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 13 It has not only ignored but also discriminated against the historic township, where younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh were bricked alive, alleges Varinder Rattan, president, District Beopar Mandal. Bir Devinder Singh, former Deputy Speaker, said the so-called “Faqr-e-qaum” and Panth Rattan” owes an explanation not only to the people of Fatehgarh Sahib district but also to the entire qaum, who pay obeisance to the great martyrs every year, as to why Fatehgarh Sahib district escaped notice of the “Faqr-e-Qaum” while distributing grants worth Rs 317 crore to 102 municipal councils of the state for development purpose except five municipal councils falling in the district. It is worth mentioning that the economic condition of the councils except those of Mandi Gobindgarh is pitiable; the councils are hardly in a position to pay salaries to their staff and clear electricity bills. Executive officer of the council said Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib council has submitted estimates worth Rs 6.49 crore for various development works. DS Guru, principal secretary to chief minister, called the council officials on October 17, and projects worth Rs 5 crore of Sirhind council, Rs 1.5 crore of Bassi Pathana council, Rs 1.08 crore of Amloh council and of Rs 61.32 lakh of Khamano were cleared in that meeting by BS Dhaliwal, technical adviser to the chief minister and a promise for sanction of the grant within days was made. However, not even a single penny has been given yet. Talking to The Tribune, council officials say the government has not sanctioned the excise amount totalling As elections are round the corner, the council president, who is son of a local MLA, has floated tenders worth Rs 5 crore for various development works, but the officials applied the condition that work orders would be issued only if the council gets the grant from government. The entire process has now been completed and works have been allotted to contractors, but the work order is pending and will be issued only after the grant is received. There is acute shortage of drinking water in certain areas, the town is not fully covered by sewerage and water supply, drains overflow and heaps of garbage can been seen in every nook and corner. The condition of roads is pitiable. The council undertook certain development work with the money collected by selling its properties. When contacted, Gurbinder Singh Bhatti, president, Municipal Council Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib, said they all were surprised how Fatehgarh Sahib slipped from the government’s mind. He said he was in constant touch with the CM’s office and they had assured sanction of grant worth Rs 5 crore which they will get soon. Shashi Bhushan Gupta, general secretary, district BJP, said they also contacted local bodies minister and lodged a protest as to why Fatehgarh Sahib had been discriminated against. He said the minister had assured he would look into the matter and release the grant.
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Textbook scam: Officials to be chargesheeted
Mohali, December 13 The officials, JS Chunni, assistant publication officer (allotment), HS Channi, publication officer and Om Parkash Soni, joint secretary (publication) have been held responsible for grave anomalies. Two assistant publication officers (APIO) Jaswinder Singh and Ashok Puri have been left out in the inquiry. The officials had allegedly released printing paper worth Rs 6 crore to 26 publishers without taking required security of Rs 1.5 crore. Instead, security of around Rs 70 lakh was taken from the publishers.
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Punjab docs to stage protest on Dec 22
Patiala, December 13 This was stated in a joint release issued by chairman, In-Service Wing of IMA, Punjab, Dr DS Bhullar, and president of the Doctors’ Federation of India Dr DC Sharma. —
TNS
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Undertake cadre review, CAT tells Punjab
Chandigarh, December 13 The CAT Bench comprising Justice SD Anand and member Khushi Ram issued directions on petition filed by PCS Rajinder Pal Singh, at present posted as SDM, Ajnala. The order directs respondents to consider the applicant (and the likes of him) against posts, which would be available. It reads, “The consideration, it is to state is obvious, shall not be impeded by the fact that the applicant has attained the age of 54 years on June 8, 2009. The exercise must be concluded within one month from today.” Petitioner’s counsel senior advocate Dharamvir Sharma stated before the Bench that if cadre review had been undertaken at the mandated time — on February 23, 2003, and February 23, 2008, — the petitioner’s name would have been considered for promotion to the
IAS.
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SBoP fraud: Police marks inquiry
Patiala, December 13 Officials confirmed that they would be involving officials of the police’s cyber wing and IT Department of the bank to identify the accused.
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Qadian-Beas rail project approved
Chandigarh, December 13 The supplementary demands were introduced today in Parliament during the ongoing winter session. The 39-km long rail link is estimated to cost Rs 205 crore. It has been proposed to start the work immediately. The Qadian-Beas rail link, says Bajwa, was first sanctioned in the pre-independence era in 1928-29. However, for over 80 years, it did not see the light of the day. This new broad gauge rail line earmarks a “socially desirable new line project” connecting backward areas, adds Bajwa. Currently, Qadian and Beas are connected through a 100-km-long circuitous rail route via Amritsar and Batala. The Qadian-Beas rail link would provide a direct and shorter route, reducing travel time between these two places separated only by 39 km. The extension of the railway line from Qadian to Beas connects the region directly to main Amritsar-Delhi line.
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Six petrol stations looted
Phagwara, December 13 Phagwara DSP Sandip Sharma confirmed the robberies and said the police had registered cases under various sections of the IPC and the Arms Act in connection with the incidents. The armed robbers, who struck in a white Swift Car, first reached a petrol station of nearby Paragpur and looted Rs 6,000. Later, they reached another petrol station, Orient Motors, Chiherru, and snatched Rs 14,000 from an employee, Sukhdev, at gunpoint and sped away towards the Phagwara side and struck at another petrol station near Prime Resorts, Phagwara, and looted Rs 15,000 from the employee there. The DSP said the robbers struck at the petrol pump of Mothu Ram Prem Chand Chachoki, and snatched Rs 40,000 from Sanjay, an employee, and managed to flee after ransacking the petrol station. He said the robbers removed CCTV cameras from almost all petrol pumps before looting them. They then struck at the Satwant Filling Station and looted Rs 1,07,000 from the filling station. In the last incident, they looted a petrol pump near Sahnewal, the DSP added. All the robberies had been committed between 11.15pm and 1am and the accused also beat up the employees of the filling stations before removing the CCTV cameras installed there.
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court today acquitted former Chief Parliamentary Secretary and sitting SAD MLA Sohan Singh Thandal in a corruption case. He was acquitted after the Court failed to find any conclusive evidence against him.
Gidderbaha, December 13
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have almost sealed a pre-poll seat-sharing arrangement with the two deciding to retain the same number of seats each as during the 2007 elections. The two have, however, agreed to exchange four seats.
Payal, December 13
Chandigarh, December 13
Ludhiana, December 13
Faridkot, December 13