|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
republic Day Rajinder Nagarkoti and Amit Sharma Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 25 The names of Sumit Kaur, Chief Architect, and Charanjit Kaur, PTI with the Government Model Senior Secondary School at Sector 10, have raised eyebrows. Charanjeet Kaur, also in charge of the UT fencing team, was found guilty in the preliminary inquiry conducted by the Director Higher Education (DHE) last year. The DHE had also issued a letter to the DPI (Schools) for disciplinary action against a few education department officials, including her. The inquiry is still pending with the UT education department. Sumit Kaur, whose deputation period with Chandigarh was extended for the third consecutive time last year, was yet to complete the UT master plan. The UT Administration had already sought extension from the Punjab and Haryana High Court on seven occasions to complete the master plan, whereas it was to be completed in 2010. When contacted, UT Finance Secretary-cum-Education Secretary VK Singh, said the list was finalised on the basis of performance of both awardees Charanjit Kaur and Sumit Kaur. He added that the award to Charanjeet Kaur was given, as the fencing team was doing very well on the national front for the past many years. On the issue of inquiry against her, he added that as per his knowledge, there was no charge-sheet against her till now. An RTI activist had last year complained to the Education Secretary, accusing the Registrar Education Arjun Dev of misleading the department by availing LTC benefits for his son even though he was away participating in a fencing tournament during that period. The RTI activist had demanded a probe against District Education Officer (DEO) Chanchal Singh and fencing team in charge Charanjit Kaur for making up expenditure details, as he had been provided with two different copies of expenditure details in response to two different RTI applications. On the Sumit Kaur issue, even the MC councillors, at a house meet in September 2011, had raised voice against Sumit Kaur and had demanded her repatriation. The councillors had alleged that the Chief Architect’s office was sitting over a number of projects, resulting in their delay. The only credit to her name was when recently the Union Government approved the heritage report prepared by the UT Administration. On the selection criteria of the UT Administration, HC Arora, state president, RTI Activists Federation, Punjab, said the Administration should give award to people for their commendable services and should not give to those against whom inquiries were marked.Echoing similar view, PC Sanghi, chairman, Federation of Sector Welfare Association, Chandigarh, said the non-performers and those against whom inquiries were pending should not be awarded.
Credentials doubtful
The names of Sumit Kaur, Chief Architect, and Charanjit Kaur, PTI with the Government Model Senior Secondary School at Sector 10, have raised eyebrows. Charanjeet Kaur, also in charge of the UT fencing team, was found guilty in the preliminary inquiry conducted by the Director Higher Education (DHE) last year. The DHE had also issued a letter to the DPI (Schools) for disciplinary action against a few education department officials, including her. The inquiry is pending with the UT education department. Sumit Kaur, whose deputation period with Chandigarh was extended for the third consecutive time last year, is yet to complete the UT master plan.
|
|
No ‘eye in sky’ this R-Day
Chandigarh, January 25 The UT police, which had boasted of being the first force in the country to acquire the hi-tech gadget, has not put any of these modernised vehicles in use, meant for surveillance in times of demonstrations, disaster management, VVIP security and traffic management. Sources said the proposal of acquiring these vehicles was hanging fire and the police had failed to procure even a single UAV while it had planned to purchase at least three of these. In April last year, the police had acquired one such vehicle - Golden Hawk - on an experimental basis from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The police had claimed that the UAV would henceforth serve as an “eye in the sky” to assist the police force in various field tasks. It had planned to induct its successor version, the Netra, which would be bigger in size and comes with a better camera. The cost of Netra was estimated at Rs 18 lakh. Even as the city remained busy with major events like the Municipal Corporation elections in December last year, President’s visit, rallies and international
UAVs equipped with a high-power small camera to record activities on the ground are used by armies around the world for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes. Police officials had flaunted that the procurement of the vehicle would be of great help to the UT police in maintaining law and order in the city when the police could keep a watchful eye on criminals and those planning to disrupt peace. Nod awaited The proposal is pending with the UT administration and a final nod is awaited. At present, we do not have any UAV and the one that was demonstrated was procured on an experimental basis and hence sent back to the company. We are awaiting the sanction of these UAVs.~ — Alok Kumar, Deputy Inspector-General of Police
|
|
GMCH-32 request casts doubts on PU evaluation
Chandigarh, January 25 Despite the re-evaluation against the rules, the PU’s Controller Examination AK Bhandari has forwarded the case to the Syndicate for its approval. Dr Raj Bahadur, in a letter to PU’s Controller Examination AK Bhandari, has requested revaluation of six students, out of which two have failed, claiming that two are demoralised and one of them was the topper of the previous batch. The letter sent by Dr Raj Bahadur in December last year, requesting the re-evaluation of six candidates, roll nos 401 to 406 of B.Sc (radiodiagnosis), second-year examination held in September 2011 states that the re-evaluation of all candidates should be done, as two out of the six candidates had got re-appear and were demoralised. The letter further mentions that as suggested by you (Controller Examination), let there be an “independent evaluation” in comparison with those candidates who had been declared pass. Interestingly, the GMCH-32 Director-Principal has also asked the PU to ensure that if the students are failed by one or two marks, they should get desired grace marks as per the general rules of the university. Surprisingly, the Controller Examination even after making a remark that the observations of the Director-Principal were serious in nature and rules did not permit the revaluation has forwarded the issue to the Syndicate for independent evaluation, claiming it to be interest of students. When contacted, Controller Examination, on whose suggestion the matter has been forwarded to the Syndicate, refused having any information about the issue and asked this correspondent to contact Dr Raj Bahadur. A Syndicate member said this was a rarest of rare case when the Director-Principal had demanded an “independent evaluation”, which means the evaluation done by the PU was not independent. “How can be the answer-sheets of four other students who have been passed re-evaluated just because two students have failed in the exam?” questioned a syndic. “It seems that two candidates are from some influential families and rules are being altered to benefit the two candidates,” the syndic added. Despite repeated attempts, Dr Raj Bahadur could not be contacted for comments.
|
1 lakh people ‘missing’ in census report
Chandigarh, January 25 According to the 2011 Indian census report, released in February past year, the provisional Chandigarh population was 10.54 lakh. The socio-economic caste census, which was on the verge of the final draft, put the city’s population figure at 9.5 lakh.
|
|
|
Where are 1 lakh people?
Chandigarh, January 25 According to the 2011 Indian census report, released in February past year, the provisional Chandigarh population was 10.54
lakh. The socio-economic caste census, which was on the verge of the final draft, put the city’s population figure at 9.5
lakh. “According to the caste census, the city’s population is 9.5
lakh,” said a senior official with the UT Administration, on the condition of anonymity. The data had been compiled by the state-owned electronics firm Bharat Electronics Limited
(BEL), in association with the Chandigarh Administration. The authorities concerned had reached the figure of 9.5 lakh after completing the review exercise, which took almost three months. In October past year, the projected population of the city, according to the BEL survey, was about 9.25
lakh, around 1.25 lakh less than the Indian census in 2011. A news report in this regard appeared in these columns on October 4, following which the Administration decided on a review exercise to fill the gap in the figures. After two or three rounds for the enumeration of population at educational institutes, two rounds for the enumeration of the homeless and adopting a ‘supervisor module’ to review locked and left-out houses over three months, the authorities could find only about 30,000 persons. “During the review exercise, we have found zero population in as many as 18 enumerated blocks, which means that the residents of those blocks have shifted to some other place,” said the official. In one enumerated block, the number of households was between 125 and 150. “We are analysing the data with census officials and trying to assess the reasons. The publication of the final draft list will take place soon after completing all formalities,” said the official.
The census began in July past year and the original date to complete it was August 28.
|
|
Civic body to work on proposed budget again
Chandigarh, January 25 According to sources, officials recommended that the department look for sponsors for the event as there was criticism during the recent General House on spending Rs 51 lakh on the festival. The officials also pointed out that the UT Administration, which organised the festival earlier, had to spend less as sponsors shared the expenditure. During the meeting, councillors had criticised the authorities for their proposal to spend a huge amount on organising the kite-flying event. The councillors had also opposed the move of the MC to spend a hefty amount on the festival without generating a single penny from it. An official said the matter had now been referred to the finance and contract committee. The authorities were planning a fresh budget proposal, which would be tabled during the first meeting, scheduled for next week. They also planned to communicate with the UT Administration to help out in managing this event as the MC was organising the festival for the first time.
|
|
Eight get police medal
Chandigarh, January 25 They are inspectors Geeta Devi and Charanjit Singh, sub-inspectors Pardeep Singh and Milap Chand, assistant sub-inspector Surinder Gautam, head constables Raghbir Singh and Sewa Singh and constable Virbhan.
|
|
Two BSF DIGs awarded
Chandigarh, January 25 He joined the BSF in 1980. He has vast experience of counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East. He has also served in the United Nations in Mozambique and the National Security Guard. He is presently posted at Headquarters, Special Director-General (West), Chandigarh. Pardeep Katyal, also posted at Chandigarh, has been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service. Since 1986, he has served in different border areas. He has also served in counter-insurgency environment in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Manipur. Mohan Prashad Bahuguna, Commandant, 51 Battalion, CRPF, and Dinesh Chander Tiwari, Assistant Commandant, Logistics and Communication, ITBP, have also been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service. Both are posted in Chandigarh.
|
|
Constable gets gallantry medal posthumously
Panchkula, January 25 Kalka police constable Suresh had caught Teja, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, near the Yavanika Park in Sector 5 when a police team led by Kalka SHO Mukesh Kumar had been chasing the suspect and his accomplice. Both accused were eventually arrested. In addition to it, Inspectors Raj Kumar, Harvinder Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector Bhagwan Dass and Head Constable Kuldeep Singh will also be honoured for their excellence at the Republic Day function at Panchkula. For their achievement in sports, Vidushi Dhankhad and Swapnil of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Ayna Garg of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, Amit Chaudhary of Sarthak School and Mamta of Government Girls College would be honoured. Similarly, principals Jaya Bhardwaj, Indu Dahiya and Krit Searai of Hansraj Public School, Sarthak School, and Satluj Public School, respectively, will be honoured for their contribution in the field of education. Mamta Mishra, principal of Asha School for Differently Abled will also get award for her contribution to the social service. Others who will be honoured include gram panchayat, Madanwala, Kedar Nath Gulati, Kesar Singh, Sanjeev Kumar, Deepak Chauhan, Anil Kumar, Kaushalya Devi, Amarjit Kaur, Jayawanti, Santosh Sahrawat, Juagal Kishore, Dev Raj and Krishan Kumar.
|
|
Vigilance bureau raids MC president’s house
Panchkula, January 25 Deputy Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Badri Prasad said raids were conducted at the houses of accused, including Kikka, clerk Hargulal and contractors, Mohan Lala and Chanranjit Singh. However, no arrests could materialise, he added. During 2007 and 2009, crores of rupees were allegedly embezzled by the accused by allocating works to the contractors, which were never carried out. It was detected that contracts were allotted to manufacture covers for drains worth Rs 85 lakh. These covers, however, were not found in place at the time of checking by the vigilance department. A complaint in this regard was lodged by former councillors, Gurcharan Dhiman, Karm Chand Dhiman and Krishna Devi. The complainants had alleged that the accused had embezzled in the name of manufacturing iron covers for drains, clearing malba and cleaning of underground septic tanks. Later, a case under Sections 406, 409, 420, 466, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC had been registered against the accused. — TNS
|
||
|
2 days to go, campaigning in full swing
Tribune News Service
Mohali, January 25
On the other hand, Congress candidate Balbir Singh Sidhu addressed rallies in residential areas of Mohali. Sidhu said it was the time for the people of Mohali to discard the Akali government, who for five years had a single-point agenda of topple democratically elected municipal council (MC) to take out their political vendetta. With two days left for campaigning to end, Sidhu also took a whirlwind tour of villages. He visited Sekhon Majra, Khura, Khuri, Saidpur, Giderpur, Chapperchiri, Kailon and Lakhnour. He reminded the villagers that it was under the Congress rule only that they can expect protection of their interests and development of their villages. An independent candidate, Lt Col Gurparkash Singh Virk, also met shopkeepers regarding his agenda for the elections. He urged the voters to give their suggestion regarding the elections. The BSP candidate, Manav Mehra, today addressed several public rallies at Mauli Baidwaanm, Raipur Khurd, Sugharh, Sambhalki, Naanu Majra, Kumbra and Lambiya villages. The former inmate of Big Boss, Dolly Bindra, accompanied Manav Mehra to all these villages and appealed to voters to vote for him. Manav Mehra while addressing a public meeting at Lambiya village said, “The poor and backward are only used during the elections by both Akali and Congress leaders. It is only during the election campaign that these leaders get in touch with the poor and backward people and after winning they don’t even recognise people from their own constituency.” Later in the evening, famous actor-director from Bollywood, Rohit Roy, along with Dolly Bindra addressed a public rally at Jagatpura colony. The PPP candidate, Bir Devinder Sarao, stated that his concentration is towards villages of Mohali where he had spent most of the time during the election campaigning. He also added that whatever he has done during his term when he was elected as the MLA of Mohali, the present government couldn’t maintained it and all proposals and work which he has done went into dump. “I don’t campaign for votes, my work will fetch me votes,” he added.
|
|
Sukhbir Badal to address rally for NK Sharma
Zirakpur, January 25 While holding rallies in the Dera Bassi constituency, NK Sharma said the area had witnessed unprecedented growth in recent times and it had always voted for the combine in the past and this time, too, the history is going to be repeated in the area. Meanwhile, Sharma today canvassed in Dera Bassi and Lalru and sought votes from residents and traders. On the other hand, Manpreet Kaur Dolly, an independent candidate and daughter of late Akali stalwart Capt Kanwaljit Singh, today hold various rallies in Zirakpur and surrounding areas.
|
|
Sachin Pilot backs Jasjit Randhawa
Dera Bassi, January 25
|
|
Election department seizes Rs 46 lakh
Mohali, January 25 In another development, Shamsher, a draughtsman attached with a static team behind the PSEB complex in Phase IX, was arrested for damaging the video camera of officials accompanying him reportedly under the influence of liquor. The incident took place late this evening and the RO, Mohali, Amit Talwar, reached the spot. He was rounded up and taken for medical examination.
|
|
300 bottles of liquor seized
Mohali, January 25 The vend was located at a short distance from the election office of Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu. The bottles had apparently been stacked to woo voters during canvassing. The presence of such a large quantity of liquor indicates that the liquor had been illegally stacked and the stock registers did not tally with the liquor found in possession of the liquor contractor. The liquor vend, according to its licence, is stated to be owned by Shruti Kaplish, whereas the salesman present on vend alleged that this vend belonged to a group in which the brother of the Congress candidate had stakes. Flying squad officer Devinder Singh called for Excise and Taxation inspector Aman Puri, who after examining the liquor vend permit said: “The permit is for the selling of country liquor but the vend is stocked with Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), which is illegal. Neither the vend is carrying any kind of declaration of the licence number and the name of vend, which are mandatory”. The owners of the vend have been issued a challan and the report has been forwarded to the district excise and taxation commissioner, Patiala, for further action.” Meanwhile, the ADC, while checking the stock assessment at vends, did not find any instance of distributing liquor through slip system.
|
|
Candidates’ posters leave Zirakpur defaced
Zirakpur, January 25
The official claimed that some residents had approached the local authority for permission to allow the candidates to paste banners and posters on their houses. A visit to the area revealed that posters of various candidates had been pasted on the boundary walls in Dhakoli, Baltana and Pabhat areas. In December, the police had registered a case against 11 persons for defacement in Zirakpur on the complaint of executive officer of Zirakpur. Talking to SDM Dera Bassi and returning officer of Dera Bassi constituency, Rajesh Tripathi about the defacement, he said some residents had taken permission for hoardings of political parties. The returning officer said for posters, he had instructed the executive officers and other staff members to remove the posters from the town and charge the removal cost of posters from the political parties concerned.
|
||
|
Workers, councillors
of BJP join PPP
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 25 At a press conference, Varinder Rattan, president of the District Beopar Mandal, Sanjay Kumar and Kuldeep Singh,
both former councillors, Sonia Markan and Anju Sharma, both councillors, Narinder
Pardhan, Suresh Sharma, Jaspal Bawa and others announced their entry in the PPP fold. They lashed out at the local BJP leadership
and said the local BJP leaders were expelling those workers from the party who are not even members of the BJP while they didn’t dare to expel office-bearers who were working against
the party. They said the so-called BJP leaders were making false complaints against the Municipal Council president just for petty gains and always created hurdles in the development of
the town.
|
||
|
Cong campaign leaders elusive
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 25 The committee was formed by Capt Amarinder Singh, president, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, PPCC. Amrinder Sing Libra, NS Tiwana and Jarnail Singh Hindupur, who had joined the Congress during the last elections deserting the SAD have again joined the SAD along with their supporters. Similarly, certain supporters of Lakhbir Singh Rai, chairman of the campaign committee, have joined the PPP and campaigning for its candidate Didar Singh Bhatti. Meanwhile, Lakhbir Singh Rai said he was busy campaigning in other constituencies out of district where his friends were contesting. He said he would devote two days in all the three constituencies of the district. Libra was not available for comments. His supporters said he was busy in Samana campaigning Raninder Singh.
|
||
|
Notice to SAD candidate
Dera Bassi, January 25 Returning officer said the candidate had been asked to reply to the notice within 24 hours and next action would be taken after receiving his reply. Schoolchildren were seen in the rally of the SAD candidate at Dappar village. When they were asked by media persons about their presence in the rally, they told them that they were brought here by the supporters of the SAD candidate by a van from government school, Lalru.
|
|
Threat to blow up airport
Chandigarh, January 25 The letter, claiming to blow up the airport, was received a day before the Republic Day. The police was on its toes and spruced up security. A case under Section 506 of the IPC was registered. — TNS
|
|
Youth falls to death
Chandigarh, January 25 Ishan and his friends had come to the city for industrial training. This evening, he suddenly fell from the balcony on the third floor of the house. His roommate Ajay took him to the PGI, where doctors declared him brought dead. Sub-inspector Rajiv Kumar, in charge of the Sector-22 police post, said Ishan died of serious head injuries.
|
|
CHANDIGARH Alumni meet on January 27: The School of Communication Studies, Panjab University, is inviting its former students for its alumni meet on January 27. The event shall be convened on the theme “Red Carpet”. The students completing 25 years or more of association with the department will be honoured on the occasion. Last year, the department hosted a retro party for their seniors. Students clad themselves in bright colours depicting the fashion and style of ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. .‘Aai Basant Bahaar’: The sixth “Aai Basant Bahaar”, a bonanza of classical music and dance, organised by the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi at the Tagore Theatre will present Rakesh Parsanna (sarod) and Arushi Mudgal (Odissi dance) on January 27, besides vocalists, Bhuvnesh Komkali and Venktesh Kumar, on January 28 from 6.30 pm onwards.Check-up camp: Commitment towards ensuring employee health and well being of its employees, Infosys under its employee engagement initiative on Tuesday organised a skin check-up camp at its Technology Park campus. The camp was held in association with the Aura Skin Clinic and MediSpa. More than 75 employees availed the benefit of this camp that involved comprehensive skin check ups to assess the overall lifestyle health risk of each employee. The camp was led by Dr Suruchi Gupta, MD dermatology, PGI, and chief consultant and director, Aura Skin Clinic and MediSpa. The doctor made the employees aware of the growing skin problems and suggested preventing and proper treatment at the right time was necessary. — Tribune Reporters
|
Education dept receives only 1,200 applications
Chandigarh, January 25 Government Model Senior Secondary Schools (GMSSS) on the top also failed to attract applicants. With the number of applicants lesser than the offered seats, the education department won’t be holding draws for the admission. The deadline to submit forms for nursery admission in the government schools ended today with the department receiving almost 50 per cent of the applications in comparison to the seats offered. Out of 90 seats offered, GMSSS-16 received only 52 applications, while GMSSS, Sectors 8, 10, 35 and 37, all offering 45 seats each in nursery, received 30, 31, 20 and 19 applications, respectively. The rural schools also received lukewarm response. Sources said the education department’s rule that people are eligible to apply for their wards in the school nearest to their house resulted in many barring from applying in the model schools. Usually the education department used to start the admission process a month later, however, to compete with the private schools, the department has decided to hold the admissions in January.
|
|||||
|
Skit, collage-making mark Psycho Fiesta
Chandigarh, January 25 Experts from the field of psychology and psychiatry were present on the occasion. The event encompassed a surfeit of infotaining activities and inter-college competitions. While some students etched out perceptive designs on T-shirts pertaining to substantial issues like stress management and substance abuse in a T-shirt painting contest, others decoupage thoughtful compositions depicting the significance of alternative healing therapies in a collage-making competition. Riveting parodies on challenges of modern day parenting intrigued audience during a skit competition and thought-provoking speeches on various issues of paramount relevance captivated the listeners. A psycho quiz analysed the students’ understanding of significant psychological concepts. The winners of various contests were awarded. A classical dance enraptured the audience. An enthralling performance of bhangra had the entire gathering tapping to the regional beats.
|
|||||
|
|||||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
