NEIGHBOURHOOD

Mystery shrouds woman, son death
Suman Bhatnagar

Kalka, February 23
The proposed project of setting-up of a mini secretariat at Kalka has been kept in lurch for more than five years. Sources reveal that the state government had taken initiative to set up Mini Secretariat on the Kalka Tehsil premises two years ago. The then Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula and the other officials concerned had visited the Kalka Tehsil in this regard. But the project has not seen the light of day till date.

Sources confirmed that the project is hanging fire, as the site for the project has not been finalised by the district administration so far, despite the fact that the local and district administration had decided to select a site near Tipra and Bitna village adjacent to Kalka and also due to some legal litigation has delayed to finalise the site.

Manita Malik, SDM Kalka, when contacted, said that a committee consisting of the judiciary members and executive members has to finalise the site of 8 acres in Tipra village.

Due to some legal litigation, the project has been delayed. The local administration has even written to the higher authorities to vacate the stay on the particular land. She added that the construction of Mini Secretariat requires minimum 16 acres of land, but due to semi-hilly area, there is not any junk of 16 acres land. Now the administration would construct mini secretariat on a separate land of 8 acres, each in residential and administrative blocks.

It is pertinent to mention that Kalka was in dire need of a mini secretariat, as Kalka sub-division came into existence in 1992 and since its inception, most of the offices are functioning in the scattered buildings in commercial as well as the residential areas in the different localities. Majority of such buildings are in a deplorable.

Ambala, February 23
A robber wearing saint clothes of saffron colour, allegedly looted Rs 70,000 from a couple, residing in Bichpadi village near Ambala.

Sources said that the robber went to Mangat Ram’s house. He told Mangat Ram that he had spiritual power by which he could double the amount presented. Mangat brought out Rs 70,000. The robber then asked Mangat to get the blessing of Peer Baba, located in the village and Mangat went to the shrine.

The accused then allegedly offered some sedative to Mangat’s wife after which she fell unconscious. On returning, Mangat found his wife unconscious and that the accused saint had disappeared with the money. —OC

Fatehgarh Sahib, February 23
A three-day international conference on ‘Advancements in Computing and Communication’ commenced at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib today. The conference is being organised by the department of computer science of the college. The conference was dedicated to the memory of Dr Gurpal Singh, former head of the department of computer science of the college, who died recently in a road accident. As many as 105 papers would be presented in the conference.

In the key note address, Dr Shakti Kumar, chairman, Ist Kalawad, stressed the need to apply technology in agriculture and tele-health. He also talked about role of robots to safeguard the country from terrorist attacks and the use of nano-technology to make life better. Appreciating the efforts, he said that it will provide a platform to the researchers, practicing engineers, academicians and students to deliberate on latest developments in the field of computer sciences and information technology.

Chandigarh, February 23
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Chandigarh Administration to improve the functioning of the Sector 15 old age home after appointing a new manager. The earlier manager was removed after complaints on misbehaviour and misconduct were received.

In a reply filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Chandigarh Administration today informed the Bench that manager Ajay Kumar was removed from service on February 21.

A complaint in the matter was earlier filed by advocate Tanu Bedi. UT senior standing counsel Sanjay Kaushal said he, too, visited the Old Age Home, along with advocate Bedi, on January 16. An interaction with the inmates revealed the manager’s behaviour was rude. Some of the inmates had tears in their eyes as they narrated the incidents.

Kaushal also heard woollens distributed by certain philanthropists were not handed over to them.

Taking cognisance of Bedi’s complaint regarding the mismanagement of Sector 15 old age home, the High Court had earlier put the UT Administration on notice.

She was also told that the residents had to pay Rs 16 a day for going out of the old age home.

The residents also told Tanu Bedi that the home was earlier better managed by the Lions club.

Chandigarh, February 23
A complaint filed by the daughter of MP Santosh Chaudhary and MLA Ram Lubhaya against a Chandigarh-based doctor under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has failed to find favour with the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In what is being seen as a major embarrassment for the Chandigarh Police, Justice Mehinder Singh Sullar of the High Court has quashed the FIR registered on the complaint of their daughter Sohini Chaudhary against Dr Onkar Chander Jagpal.

The development is significant as Dr Jagpal and another petitioner had claimed that the UT Police had falsely registered the present case against them under “influence and political pressure”.

The significant ruling came on a petition by Dr Jagpal and another petitioner against the Union Territory of Chandigarh and another respondent.

Dr Jagpal and his wife Adarsh Jagpal have been residing in house number 1318, Sector 15-B, Chandigarh, for the last about 35 years. Complainant Sohini Chaudhary desired to purchase the house from the very beginning. Since the petitioners purchased the 50 per cent share of the house, the complainant and her family turned inimical and started harassing them on false and frivolous grounds, the Bench heard.

The FIR was registered against the petitioners-accused on July 13, 2006, at the police station of Sector 11, Chandigarh, on allegations of committing an offence punishable under Section 3 of the Act.

Summing up the petitioners’ case, Justice Sullar asserted: “There has been prolonged civil and criminal litigation between the parties, relatable to the house. According to the petitioners-accused, Ram Lubhaya, father of the complainant, is an MLA whereas her mother Santosh Chaudhary is a former MP.

“They blocked the parking area and Dr Jagpal reported the matter to the IG police, UT Chandigarh, on June 12, 2006. Instead of taking the legal action against the complainant party and under their influence and political pressure, the UT police falsely registered the present case against the petitioners".

Justice Sullar asserted: “What cannot possibly be disputed here is that in the instant case, it is no where mentioned in the complaint, which formed the basis of the FIR, that the petitioners-accused are not the members of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, they knew that the complainant was a member of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes, they intentionally insulted or intimidated with intent to humiliate her (member of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes) and at a place within public view.

“Not only that, the complaint/FIR should disclose the caste of the offenders alone, it should disclose that the petitioners-accused were aware about the caste of the complainant as well….

“The instant petition is accepted. Consequently, the impugned FIR and all other subsequent proceedings arising there from are hereby quashed. The petitioners are accordingly discharged from the indicated criminal case”.

Chandigarh, February 23
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has called for curbing with a heavy hand the increasing tendency of implicating people under the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Quashing an FIR registered against Chandigarh-based Dr Onkar Chander Jagpal under provisions of the Act, Justice Mehinder Singh Sullar asserted: "As strange as it may appear, but strictly speaking, the common tendency and frequency of the complainants of involving and roping the accused on vague and bald allegations under section 3 of the Act, have been tremendously increasing day-by-day in our society. 

"Even plain and simple occurrence under the Indian Penal Code is given the colour of offence under section 3 of the special Act by adding false and vague allegations as in the instant case. 

"This tendency needs to be curbed. If not discouraged and in the wake of their over enthusiasm and anxiety to take revenge of civil dispute by involving the accused in such false criminal cases, in that eventuality, it will ultimately weaken those true cases of the prosecution as well even against the real culprits and the very object and purpose of the Act would pale into insignificance in this relevant behalf". Justice Sullar added: "It is not a matter of dispute that the Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Act is a special enactment/statute and its provisions have to be strictly construed in the same manner as mandate by the Act and not otherwise. 

"The element of intentional, insult or intimidation with intent to humiliate a member of Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe in public view should clearly be borne out from the FIR…. "It is a matter of common knowledge that such (offending) words in a quarrel between the two enemies at a spur of moment are common and routine and cannot possibly be taken to be an offence under the Act".

Before parting with the ruling, Justice Sullar added that mere utterance of offending words would not constitute an offence under the Act in the absence of intention or mens rea to humiliate the complainant in public view, particularly when the imputations were grossly vague in quarrel or altercation between the members of non-Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Caste.

Chandigarh, February 23
Solving a case of stolen motor cycle, the police nabbed Ankit Kumar Bansal (Happy) of Patiala here today. The case was registered at the Sector-34 police station.

According to the station house officer of the Sector 11 police station, the victim admitted to his role in the crime. The accused has stolen the motor cycle (PB-65K-2925) in November, 2011, from Phase-1, Mohali. He was using the bike after fixing a fake number plate (PB-27C-5085) on it.

The police, during a routine patrol, found the vehicle parked in the parking lot of hostel no. 2 of Panjab University. A case under Sections 473, 411 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector-11 police station.

Chandigarh, February 23
The police has arrested three persons for playing satta here today.

The police arrested Ajay Kumar while he was playing satta and recovered Rs 810. A case under sections 13A-3-67 of the Gambling Act was registered.

Naseem of Colony No. 4 was arrested from Daria for the same offence and Rs 740 was recovered.

Ram Kumar of Burail was arrested while he was playing satta. The police recovered Rs 865. A case under sections 13A-3-67 of the Gambling Act has been registered at the police station of Sector 34.

Chandigarh, February 23
Administration and Operations emerged overall champions in the Inter-Unit Sports Championship, which concluded at the Air Force station here today. The 44 Squadron and 48 Squadron teams were declared runners-up.

A total of 324 players participated in football, volleyball, basketball, swimming, shooting, table tennis and badminton matches.

The chief guest, Air Commodore SC Chafekar, Air Officer Commanding, 12 Wing, gave away the prizes, trophies and certificates.

Results: swimming: winners: Administration and Operations, runners-up: Maintenance; badminton: winners: 44 Squadron, runners-up: 126 HF, AF Barwala, 712 SU, 458 MOF; table tennis: winners: Administration and Operations, runners-up: Maintenance; football: winners: 2224 Squadron, runners-up: 44 Squadron; shooting: winners: 48 Squadron, runners up: 126 HF, AF Barwala, 712 SU, 458 MOF; volleyball: winners: Administration and Operations, runners-up: 48 Squadron; basketball: winners: 44 Squadron, runners-up: Administration and Operations.

Chandigarh, February 23
An all-round performance by Angad Khera helped Vivek High Asian Cricket Academy beat Stepping Stones Cricket Academy by 20 runs to enter the final of Sardar Bhagwant Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament here today.

Vivek academy won the toss and elected to bat. Angad top-scored with 88 runs and was assisted by Shivam Bhambri, who also hit a half-century. The team scored 242 runs for eight wickets in 50 overs. Bhanu took three wickets for 30 runs.

In reply, Stepping Stones were all out for 222 runs in 43.2 overs. Angad was declared man of the match. The tournament was organised by Vivek High Asian Cricket Academy at Vivek High School, Sector 38.

Brief scores: Vivek academy: 242 for 8 in 50 overs (Angad 88, Shivam 55, Karan 40, Ansh 27, Bhanu 3 for 30, Armaan 2 for 38, Davinder 2 for 18); Stepping Stones: 222 all out in 43.2 overs (Davinder 55, Pintoo 37, Armaan 29, Naveen 24, Shivam 3 for 24, Angad 3 for 26, Arjun 2 for 29, Sanjog 2 for 12).