The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

ambala road accident
Lack of medical facility led to death of some kids
Our Correspondent

Ambala, January 4
Some children of Arjun Public School could have survived if proper medical arrangement for the treatment of trauma patient was provided in civil hospitals at Ambala City and Ambala Cantt.

CT scan facility required for head-injury cases is neither available in Ambala Cantt hospital nor at trauma centre in Ambala City.

Ambala Cantt Civil Hospital does not have even an ultra sound machine, which is not a very costly affair.

Both hospitals do not have any neurosurgeon and neurophysician to deal with trauma patients.

Around 20 injured students were brought to Ambala Cantt and Ambala City civil hospitals after the accident on Monday. After giving first aid, the doctors referred around 12 injured children to the PGI, Chandigarh, where a few of them succumbed to their injuries.

The ambulance takes around one hour to reach PGI from Ambala City, whereas seriously injured patients require immediate treatment.

The trauma centre was set up in Ambala City Civil Hospital around five years ago with the aid of Union Government so that the injured on the highways could get immediate treatment there.

But generally the doctors of this hospital refer serious cases to the PGI, Chandigarh, as they do not have specialised medical facilities to treat such patients.

One of the doctor of the City hospital said, “We do not have required equipment and specialised doctors to deal with serious trauma patients that is why we refer them to the PGI and this is the reason why we had to refer the children yesterday to Chandigarh.”

Foetus found in drain
Our Correspondent

Ambala, January 4
A mature foetus was recovered from a drain outside the Civil Hospital in Ambala City this noon. A passerby noticed that a foetus was lying in the drain close to the Civil Hospital. He informed the matter to the police. Baldev Nagar police station SHO Rajneesh Yadav along with ASI Kulwinder Kaur reached the site.

The foetus was taken out from the drain. It could not be ascertained so far who had thrown the mature foetus in the drain.

Dr. Rajender Rai, RMO, Civil Hospital, said that the cord of the foetus was disconnected, which indicated that the foetus was thrown after the delivery.

COURTS

Admission to st kabir
HC tells Admn to reply on March 5
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) has fixed March 5 the date for enabling the UT Administration to respond to the controversy over admission to schools in Chandigarh. Justice Augustine George Masih fixed the date after a three-membered committee, formed to look into allegations levelled by parents against St Kabir School, gave an adverse report against the school for not properly following the procedure and criteria for admission.

“The school authorities deviated from the common admission schedule and erred by admitting the children of a few preferred categories without fixing a limit and leaving only a few seats for candidates of the general category,” read the report of the panel headed by DPI(S) Sandeep Hans.

However, the allegations of non-transparency did not find favour with the committee. The report was produced during a resumed hearing of a petition filed by parents of nine minors, alleging irregularities in admission to pre-nursery class by the Sector-26 school. The petition had been filed by Anirudh Sharma and other parents. They had applied for admission of their wards. The petitioners argued that unlike other schools, St Kabir School did not allow parents to take admission forms home, making them to fill in those at the school.

The petitioners also argued that only 18 of the 92 students in pre-nursery class were admitted through the draw of lots while other seats were arbitrarily reserved for siblings of those already studying at the school and children of teachers.

The petitioners added the entire admission process was vitiated by the arbitrariness and illegality because as per apex court guidelines, no school could reserve more than 50 per cent seats.

Decision today

The final decision on nursery admissions, stalled till the hearing, will be taken by the education department tomorrow. It claims to be awaiting the DPI(S), who is away to Delhi.

Private schools have requested the department to sort out the issue soon. They say it has been affecting the academic calendar and increasing the anxiety of parents.

Consumer Commission
After forum rap, relief for Berkeley
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4
Giving relief to Berkeley Automobiles Limited, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has turned down the order of the District Consumer Forum-II, directing the car dealer to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation on account of non-delivery of a Maruti Swift car to the complainant through the CSD canteen.

Commission president Justice Sham Sunder and member Jagroop Singh Mahal observed that there was no deficiency in service on the part of any of the opposite parties.

They asserted that if the complainant failed to purchase the car, it was due to his own fault as he did not deposit the bank draft with the opposite party promptly after he received it from the appellant and did not obtain the documents.

They stated that the complainant did not go to the opposite party to enquire when holidays would be and when his bank draft and documents could be deposited for the purchase of the car, adding that the complainant slept over the matter.

The forum had directed the opposite party to pay 9 per cent interest per annum from the date of deposit till the dates of realisation on the blocked amount of Rs 4,16,939 and Rs 50,000 as compensation for causing physical harassment, mental agony and pain to the complainant, besides Rs 7,000 as costs of litigation.

The complainant, Biresh Chaubey, had stated that he booked a Swift VXI car with Berkeley Automobiles through the CSD canteen at Ambala by paying Rs 12,000 on February 18, 2010, and submitted requisite documents and in the meantime, the State Bank of India released the loan amount on March 23, 2010.

He alleged that the opposite party handed over a draft for Rs 4,01,469 and asked him to wait for approval from the CSD canteen. It was stated that he had paid one EMI of Rs 6,083 to the bank and the second one was due.

He added that the opposite party did not tell him to deposit bank drafts with the CSD canteen from April 5 to 9 as the delivery of the car was to be stopped by April 10, 2010.

The counsel for the opposite party denied that the complainant was asked to wait for approval. The counsel averred that the complainant was to apply for CSD approval and bring it.

It was stated that the complainant had later brought the documents required and after the documents were readied for approval, those were returned to the complainant for submitting those to the CSD canteen at Ambala.

It was pleaded that sale in Chandigarh was stopped by the CSD canteen on April 10, 2010, and the complainant was refused the delivery order and told to take the car through the Haryana CSD canteen, which he refused due to higher taxes.

HC issues notice of motion on felling
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4
Large-scale felling of trees for the widening of the road from Chandigarh to the T-junction on the Kurali-Siswan stretch has come under the judicial scanner. Acting on a petition against the Union of India, GMADA and Omaxe, besides other respondents, claiming that the felling of more than 1,000 trees is avoidable, the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover today issued a notice of motion.

In the petition, petitioner Jeet Bhumbla added that directions be issued to them for quashing the sanction to cut 1,827 trees and uproot 560 poles, along with 664 young plants, on either side of the road. He added that the widening was taking place from Mullanpur at the UT boundary and the felling of as many as 1,100 trees on one side was avoidable.

2-yr term for fraud convicts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4
After the long trial of 12 years, a local court today awarded two-year imprisonment to the owners of Marigold Forests and Alpine Floritech Limited in a cheating case. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 1,000 on them.

The court awarded the punishment to Rajesh Sayal of Panchkula and co-owners Sukhdev Kaushal, Ramesh Chand Kaushik and Om Chand. The owners had duped investors by luring them to invest in the company.

The firm, having its head office at NAC, Mani Majra, had been accepting deposits from investors by promising them high rates of interest.

On January 27, 2000, the police arrested the owners of the company for cheating investors. The court framed charges against the accused on January 26, 2001.

CRIME

sibling murders
Contradictions in police, family versions
Accused at large even after week
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4
The accused in the double murder of siblings Kavita and Gaurang Sahu managed to con the UT police for over a week as it have failed to arrest the accused even after a week. Numerous contradictions in the versions of the police and the family came up, pointing fingers at the police invstigations in the case.

Malti Devi, mother of the two, doubted th theory of the police .

She said her daughter never told her that Rahul used to trouble her.

She also denied reports that Rahul was a frequent visitor to the house two years ago.

Contrary to police claims that the accused was a maternal uncle of the siblings, the family said the accused was not a close relative, but a very distant relative, who never visited their house.

“Had my daughter been harassed by Rahul, she would definitely have told me as she was close to me,” she said.

“I saw Rahul at the wedding past month after many years. He is a distant relative and not in touch with us. I wonder how the police has come up with this theory,” she added.

The police said a lot would unfold once the accused was behind bars.

It said it had scientific and circumstantial evidence to prove that Rahul was behind the murder.

“He is wilfully absconding. That itself proves that he is behind the murder’” said one of the investigating officers.

“Evidence collected from the spot points to his involvement,” he added.

Youth throws chilly powder in girl’s eyes
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4
An unidentified youth threw chilly powder in the eyes of a 23-year-old girl residing in Sector 38 here past evening. Malika, working with private firm in Panchkula, was walking towards her residence when a youth riding a scooter threw chilly powder in her eyes and fled the spot.

Paramjit Singh, sub-inspector of the Sector-39 police station, said the girl was admitted to hospital, where her condition was stable.

He added that the victim’s family refused to lodge a complaint.

Woman dies of burns
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4
Twentyfive-year-old Sangeeta of Dhanas died following an incident of fire at her residence here this evening. A mother of two children, she sustained 90 per cent burns.

Her husband Bharat, a labourer, sustained burn injuries while trying to save her.

The police said the cause of the fire would be ascertained recording the statements of the family.

SPORTS

Gurkirat hits ton, Punjab pile up 424
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4
Making it a one-day affair, Gurkirat Mann hit a century off 207, helping the Punjab team score 424 against Delhi, today. Gurkirat Mann scored 187 runs including 21 boundaries and four sixes during the second day of the final match of Col CK Nayudu Trophy (boys U-22), being held at the DDCA.

The Punjab team was bowled out for 424 runs after resuming from their overnight score of 261 for 5. The team lost its first wicket of the day when Manan Sharma caught Gitansh Khera after adding five runs to his total of 54 off 134 balls that included six boundaries.

Thereafter, Punjab lost two quick wickets of Gurinder Singh (0) and Gunjot Singh (4) but Gurkirat Singh stayed back on crease and contributed a lion’s share in the team’s total.

His counterpart, Siddharth Kaul, contributed 26 off 97 studded with four boundaries. For Delhi, Sunny Sherawat was the pick of the bowlers for his 4 for 96 while Vikram Dahiya took 3 for 96. Varun Sood also supported his counterparts after taking 2 for 72.

In reply, Baltej Singh gave an early shock to the host team after taking opener Mohit Sharma. Soon after the first wicket, he struck again and took second opener Aditya Kaushik on the total of 14 runs.

Meanwhile, Dhruv Shoreya stabled the team but Baltej Singh again showed his bowling class and took him for 35 off 46 including of seven boundaries.

Later, Milind Kumar joined Vaibhav Rawat and continued the team’s innings but Vaibhav Rawat lost his wicket, just before the end of day’s play, to Gunjot Singh for 23 off 44 studded with three boundaries.

On other hand, Milind Kumar remained unbeaten on 47 off 84 studded with six boundaries and one six while Rishit Saini remained unbeaten on 2 runs. The duo will open the team’s innings tomorrow.

At the end of day’s play, the Delhi team was 133 for 4 in 35 overs. For Punjab, Baltej Singh was the most successful bowler for his 3 for 38.

Brief Score:

Punjab (1st innings): 424 all out in 125.5 overs (Kunwar Raina 22, Jeevanjot 11, Preetkamal 10, Pargat Singh 78, Himanshu Chawla 21, Gitansh Khera 59, Gurkirat Singh 187, Siddharth Kaul 26, Sunny Sherawat 4 for 96, Vikram Dahiya 3 for 96 and Varun Sood 2 for 72).

Delhi (1st innings): 133 for 4 in 35 overs (Dhruv Shorey 35, Milind Kumar 47 not out and Vaibhav Rawat 23, Baltej Singh 3 for 38, Gunjot Singh 1 for 5).