NEIGHBOURHOOD

Kathak artistes enthral audience
Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 26
A large number of Punjabi University teachers held a demonstration in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office, Patiala, for the delay in releasing salary arrears of the university teachers by the Punjab government. The teachers sat on a dharna for about two hours, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, under the banner of Punjabi University Teachers’ Coordination Committee (PUTCC).

The protesters rued that the salary arrears of the university teachers for the period of 43 months (from January 1, 2006, to July 1, 2009) were still pending but the government was not bothered about it. The speakers deplored the discriminatory attitude of the state government towards the varsity teachers.

They informed that the state government has released the 40 per cent of pay arrears to her employees during 2011 and has further announced that the next instalment of 30 per cent would be released during June, 2012. PUTCC leadership has stated that releasing of arrears to university teachers would in no way put additional financial burden on the state government as 80 per cent of it would be provided by the centre government in the form of reimbursed money to the state government.

The teachers also announced that in the coming days, the agitation would not only be continued but also be intensified. The leadership has urged the Vice-Chancellor of the university to take up the issue with the Chief Minister. The PUTCC leadership has also thanked the Guru Nanak Dev University Teachers Association for extending support to the dharna.

The Dharna was addressed by Dr Satnam Singh Sandhu, Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, Dr Ran Singh Dhaliwal, Dr Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Dr Narinder Kumar Attri, Dr Harvinder Singh Bhatti and Dr Varinder Kaushik.

Patiala, April 26
A four-member team of the health and family welfare department, Patiala, today inspected various outlets selling tobacco products and challaned 17 persons for violating the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.

More than Rs 2,000 was collected as fine from these violators.

Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Virinder Singh Mohi said no laxity would be shown to those violating the Act. Dr Bahl said such random inspections would help curb the unauthorised sale of tobacco products.

Chandigarh, April 26
A petition for prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol, non-vegetarian food and tobacco products within the municipal limits of religious cities has failed to find favour with the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

A Division Bench refused to entertain the petition and dismissed it on the ground that the petitioner had failed to point out any law prohibiting the sale of such items within the municipal/local limits of the holy cities.

The directions came on a petition filed in public interest by Ujagar Singh Chappa against the Union of India and other respondents.

Taking up the petition, the Bench observed: “This PIL has been filed seeking directions for effective implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.

“A further direction to prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol, non-vegetarian food and tobacco products within the municipal limits or local limits of the holy cities/religious places has also been prayed for”.

“Counsel for the petitioner, on being asked, has submitted that the Act does not prescribe any minimum distance which is required to be maintained between a place where tobacco products are sold and a place of religious worship.

“Insofar as the prohibition on sale of alcohol and non-vegetarian food is concerned, obviously, the aforesaid aspects of the matter are not covered by the Act. Counsel has not been able to point out any law which would prohibit the sale of such items within the municipal limits or local limits of the holy and religious cities.

“In the circumstances, we are inclined to hold that the PIL does not disclose any basis for being entertained. Consequently, the PIL is dismissed.”

Chandigarh, April 26
A former Judge has knocked at the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to check the mushrooming of unregistered recruiting agents for curbing immigration frauds.

In a public interest petition, Justice Amar Dutt (retired) has contended: “A large number of unregistered recruiting agents/employers have proliferated in recent times...

“These may be functioning with impunity in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh without obtaining any registration under Section 10 or any permit under Section 16 (of The Emigration Act, 1983) by issuing newspaper advertisements or using other means to unethically recruit innocent persons for employment abroad”.

Taking up the petition, a Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar issued a notice for May 30. In the petition filed through counsel Anil Malhotra, Justice Dutt said: “Apparently, most of these individuals or firms operate under the guise of a consultancy to attract innocent victims through websites and advertisements... in larger public interest and public welfare, this menace must be checked and stopped as the life, liberty and freedom of Indian citizens under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution have to be protected”.

Zirakpur, April 26
Gazalmajyeova, who has come from Uzbekistan, today lodged a fresh complaint with the police alleging that she was sexually assaulted by the two accused in a flat at Panchkula where the duo had kept her in captivity for about 25 days.

Notably, on the complaint of 28-year-old Ghazalmajyeova from Uzbekistan, the police has registered a case under Sections 343, 323, 308 C, 506, 34 and 379 IPC for wrongful confinement, causing hurt and criminal intimidation against Tarun Goyal and Aman, alias Shilpi, last evening at the Zirakpur police station.

Tarlochan Singh, the station house officer of Zirakpur, confirmed that he had received a fresh complaint from the foreigner.

“We have already started probing the case. A case under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act has already been registered against the accused, Tarun Goyal,” said Tarlochan Singh.

He added that three police parties had already been sent to different locations to nab Goyal and his accomplice Aman, alias Shilpi. Medical examination of the victim was conducted today.

She also alleged that she had to run from pillar to post to get the complaint registered. She stated that she went to Delhi first where the police asked her to get the complaint registered with the Zirakpur police which refused to do so and told her to go to Mohali SSP’s office.

“A DDR was lodged finally at the Sector-3 police station and the case was referred to the Zirakpur police station,” said Ghazalmajyeova, who had come in contact with the duo through her friends in Delhi. “The duo had confined me illegally. They also took away my passport and Rs 2 lakh,” alleged the victim.

Panchkula, April 26
Two members of Nishan Singh gang, who were nabbed by the local police last night, were putting up in a rented accommodation at Railly village in Sector 12-A after their release from the Ambala Central jail.

The accused, who have been identified as Ravi Kumar, a resident of Asandh, Karnal, and Pankaj, a resident of Balwagahi in Muzzafarnagar (UP), confessed to have worked for a dreaded criminal Nishan Singh and his accomplice Manga, who is lodged in Ambala jail. Both of them used to extort money from businessmen. Ravi, along with Manga, Atul, Sachin Sharma and Surinder, on September 17, 2011, shot at a local businessman and a resident of Sector 4, Anil Kumar Bhalla, to extort money from him. A case under Sections 285,387 IPC and 25-54-59 Arms Act was registered against the accused.

Chandigarh, April 26
A total of 37 players participated in the 23rd Chandigarh Chess Championship which started at St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, here today. During the championship, the Chandigarh Chess Association will also select four players to represent the city in the upcoming National Challengers Championship to be held at Tirupathi, from May 18 to 28.

Point positions-

2 Points-Vohra Abhinandan, Naveen Bansal, Nitin, Goyal Arunima, Piyush Manuja, Pardeep Singh Negi, Gusain Himal, Chander Mohan Sharma

1½ Points- Kritika Kapila, Manmohan Singh

1 Point- Tarini Goyal, Jaskeerat Singh, Aryan Oswal, Rahul Arora, Sunil Bansal, Vipan Negi, Shweta, Harpreet Singh, Hitesh Issar, Lakshay Bhatia, Levanshu, Mayank Verma, Puneet Kumar, Rishabh, Shishir Lamba, Manvir Singh

½ Point- Jashan Singh, Navneet Kaur Ahuja

0 Point- Kashish Jain, Devesh Bibra, Abhinav, Anhat, AS Chopra, Hitesh, Mauraya Mahajan, Mohit Thakur. — TNS

Chandigarh, April 26
The Air Force football championship will kick-off tomorrow at 3 Base Repair Depot (3BRD), Air Force Station. All the matches will be played on a league-cum-knockout basis. During the tournament, a team of Air Force will also be selected to participate in the forthcoming inter-services football championship.

A total of seven teams (from Air Head Quarters and six commands) are participating in the championship. — TNS