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Rs 1.04 cr, jewellery recovered from Fiza’s lockers
Mohali, September 13 The three lockers at the Punjab and Sind Bank, Sector 47, Punjab National Bank, Sector 17 and the State Bank of Patiala at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, were opened today by a team of the Mohali police led by DSP Darshan Singh Mann in the presence of Fiza’s three sisters — Anjali, Monika and Aditi — and an executive magistrate. The jewellery was recovered only from one locker (number 1079) of the Punjab and Sind Bank. The jewellery items included diamond set worth Rs 22 lakh, gold earrings, a gold necklace and a nose pin. Lockers in two others banks only had cash. Rs 54.99 lakh cash was recovered from locker number 2580 of the PNB, Sector 17, and Rs 49.99 lakh from locker number 37 of the State Bank of Patiala branch at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The process of opening of lockers was video-graphed by the police. The seized cash and jewellery will be deposited in the government treasury in a day or two, said Mohali SSP GS Bhullar. “Opening of lockers was also part of our investigations. But we got no document other than cash and jewellery,” added
Bhullar. Lockers last operated on... Police officials count cash recovered from Fiza’s locker
No will, no nominee
Kin may not get anything
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Prime Minister not coming, Rs 12 lakh spent on bulletproof enclosure
Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 13 Without having any conformation about the PM’s visit, the Administration started its preparations for the bulletproof enclosure and improving the infrastructure. Till now, the UT Administration has not received any conformation regarding the PM’s visit. Jagjit Puri, head, publicity and marketing, CLTA, said: “The PM is not coming. The UT Administration has set up a bulletproof enclosure in anticipation of the PM’s visit. The UT Administration is doing needful to improve the infrastructure,” said Puri. UT Home Secretary Anil Kumar said they have not received any conformation for the PM’s visit to the city. “As the CLTA had informed the administration about the invitation to the PM, we had started the preparations. Moreover, the administration has improved the infrastructure as the city got a chance to host the Davis Cup.”
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No more free drinks for women
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 13 Promoters of bars and discotheques offer drinks to women at weekend parties in the city. Taking a serious note of this, the UT administration is issuing an advisory to owners of bars and discotheques not to insert advertisements in newspapers, internet or any other media on free drinks at the weekend parties to women. The promotion was not only against the excise law, but also encouraged drinking habits among women, observed UT officials. Offering free drinks amounted to promotion of a particular brand of liquor or wine, they said. Sources said promotion of free drinks was a violation of the Excise Act and it could also attract a penalty. To check the operators of pubs and discos, the UT Administration is issuing an advisory in public interest. Recently, an RTI activist, RK Garg in a representation to the UT Finance Secretary, had highlighted the menace of serving free drinks at hotels and bars in Chandigarh. To verify the facts, an excise department team had visited different bars and discos on the weekends. It has been pointed out that advertisements were appearing in newspapers wherein hotels and bars were offering free drinks to women and girls.
Ray of hope for Sukhna
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Rs 5 hike in diesel price, cap on LPG cylinders come as a shock
Chandigarh, September 13 At present, an LPG cylinder in the city is available at Rs 410, but now with the new rules, after using six cylinders, the consumer will have to pay around Rs 750 for next cylinder. Presently, the government is giving a subsidy of around Rs 340 on an LPG cylinder. Sandeep Sharma, executive in a private bank, said the Union Government has miserably failed to control the prices of essential commodities and petroleum products. The hike in diesel prices will increase the transportation cost which will ultimately increase the rates of all commodities. Poonam Chauhan, a homemaker, said the cap on LPG cylinders would affect her budget. She said a LPG cylinder lasts only one month in their house and they required around 12 cylinders in a year. But with the cap on getting only six subsidize LPG cylinders, her kitchen budget would definitely be affected, she added. Kamal Singh, a Zirakpur resident, said the rate at which the oil companies are increasing prices, the common man has no option but to opt for bicycle. Rajinder Pandey, a software professional, said he had recently purchased a diesel car as petrol prices were increasing regularly. He added that though he was expecting a hike in diesel prices, the hike of Rs 5 has come as a shock. Poonam Negi, a college student, said: “It seems that the Central Government is not concerned about the common man. The hike in diesel prices and cap on LPG cylinders will affect the common man.”
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Ray of hope for Sukhna
Chandigarh, September 13 As the case came up for resumed hearing this morning, the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain asked the counsel for the Chandigarh Administration to explore the feasibility of diverting the water surplus in the months of December and January to the lake. "In December and January, the water consumption is less, it can be poured into the Sukhna" the Bench orally remarked. The Bench also added nothing much was done to desilt the lake, despite the deployment of over 100 persons for the process. The counsel assured the court that he would seek instructions on diverting the surplus water between December 15 and January 15. He added it was not viable to divert the water from Patiala Ki Rao, as suggested by the Bench, because of the distance. Already, the National Institute of Hydrology - a premier institute in the area of hydrology and water resources in India - is carrying out a study of the lake, for finding a solution to the problem. Established in 1978, the institute has its headquarters at Roorkee in Uttarakhand, the institute is well equipped to carry out computer, laboratory and field oriented studies. The Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh had earlier asked the institute to study the feasibility of diverting the flow of water from Patiala-Ki-Rao or Ghaggar River into the Sukhna Lake. The High Court, on a previous date of hearing, had asked the chief secretaries of Punjab and Haryana to put their heads together with the Advisor to the UT Administrator to find an alternative source of water supply to Sukhna Lake. The directions came after Kaushal said that water could not reach the Sukhna Lake from the catchment area due to deficient rain. For quenching the thirst of parched Sukhna Lake, the High Court had also asked the Chandigarh Administration to release water from the check dams into it. The Bench had also refused to vacate the stay on construction in the lake’s catchment area, even though a demand for the same was raised by a law officer for Punjab state. It had also sought a report on authorised and unauthorised construction till March 14 last year, when building activity of any kind in the catchment area was prohibited.
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Fuel pilferage: Disciplinary action initiated against two CITCO employees
Chandigarh, September 13 A senior official at CITCO confirmed that the chargesheet was filed against the two officials. In the probe they were held accountable for the missing stock of diesel at the Sector 9 filing station. During a raid, the vigilance had found 3,378 litre of diesel missing. An inquiry was marked by the Advisor in January this year after reports of pilferage of petrol from the Sector 9 filing station surfaced. The official said that the pilferage of petrol and diesel had been detected while checking the accounts there. Holding Kohli and Kumar responsible for the negligence, the vigilance has recommended departmental action against the two. Though the vigilance team has found 3,378 litre of diesel missing, a pilferage of over 16,000 litre of fuel had been reported initially. The shortage in fuel was noticed while checking accounts. It had been alleged that tampering was done in the stock register by using correction fluid. Earlier, a similar pilferage was reported from the Sector 56 filling station. At least 18,067 litre of unleaded petrol worth Rs 12 lakh had gone missing between April 1 and August 18 last year.
Sector 9 filling station
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Extortion racket at Mansa Devi Complex
Panchkula, September 13 About 300 residents, vendors and taxi owners had lodged a complaint against Subash Sachdeva, Amrit Lal Sharma, VK Gupta and others who posed as the members of the Resident Welfare Association. "The inquiry has been marked to DCP Parul Kush," said the DC. The complainants had also submitted a memorandum. They stated that the accused threatened them and extorted money saying they needed money for various development works in the area. "We met the DC and she said told us that a probe had been marked in to the matter. She assured us of doing the needful, said a resident. However, Subash Sachdeva refuted all allegations. "We have asked HUDA to remove roadside stalls." Estate officer of HUDA Ashwini Sharma said he had never come across any RWA and no one had contacted them.
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No salary for officials on unsanctioned posts in MC
Mohali, September 13 Orders have been received by the corporation from the Principal Secretary, Department of Local Government, sanctioning a host of posts at various levels for the civic body under Section 71( 5 ) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976. Posts of executive officer and legal adviser do not figure in the list of the sanctioned posts for the local corporation. At present, two executive officers and one legal adviser are working in the civic body. Besides, the Principal Secretary has sanctioned only seven posts of SDO for Mohali against 10 SDOs now working with the corporation. These officials will not be able to draw their salaries next month unless special sanction for their posts is sought from the authorities concerned. An official of the corporation said that the matter had been brought to the notice of Commissioner Varun Roojam who gave an assurance that the needful would be done. Assistant Controller (Local Audit) Sher Singh said that he too had received a copy of the orders and had pointed out that the salaries must be released according to them. Going by the orders of the Principal Secretary, the corporation will have to set up a full-fledged town planning wing with regular posts such as those of Municipal Town Planner and Assistant Town Planner. Besides, the fire brigade will have to be strengthened drastically with the Department of Local Government sanctioning 24 posts of leading fireman, 80 posts of fireman and 24 of fire driver. The fire brigade at present has only one leading fireman, 12 firemen and four drivers.
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Cong workers allege police inaction
BJP candidate's relative had hit party worker during canvassing Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 13 They said BJP candidate Bindu Rani was his sister-in-law. During the door-to-door canvassing of the Congress candidate, Poonam Sharma, who is contesting from ward number 7, one of the women Congress workers Suresh Kumari was hit by a motorcycle which was being driven by sarpanch Mamchand's son. Suresh Kumari is a resident of Dhanas and is supporting Poonam Sharma. Suresh Kumari said while she was accompanied by co-workers of the Congress during canvassing along with her son, Mamchand's son along with his friends hit her, leaving her injured. Her son also sustained injuries. She added that when she went to lodge a complaint against him, SHO Charanjeet Singh Virk refused to do so. She alleged that for the past three days, Mamchand's son had been threatening to kidnap her. Following which all Congress workers staged a protest against the SHO. Congress candidate Poonam Sharma complained that earlier also the police had not taken any action against Mamchand's son when the Congress had lodged a complaint against him two days ago. When contacted, the SHO said raids were being conducted at the site and statements of eyewitnesses were recorded. The police has impounded Mamschand's son's motorcycle. Congress councillor Pardeep Chabbra said they had ended the protest as they had to go for campaigning. He added that the party would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission against the BJP tomorrow.
Campaigning picks up
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PGI moots change in system
Ritika Jha Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 13 During the last meeting of the institute's governing body held recently, a proposal was mooted suggesting the institute to hold the auctions of the chemist shops on the basis of the maximum discount to be offered to patients and not on the basis of highest rent to be paid. The monthly rents being paid by the six chemists to the PGI are currently scaled as high as Rs 42 lakh, generating a sum of nearly Rs 20 crore, in total. If implemented, the proposed system will be beneficial for the patients. Consider this: A medicine, which is priced at Rs 26 (MRP), is procured by the chemist at Rs 3. The chemist, after offering a maximum of 30 per cent discount to a patient, saves Rs 18.20 and pays the monthly rent running into lakhs. While for the PGI, a non-profit organisation, an amount equal to the income from the rent gets deducted from total funds released by the Central government, the patients are at the receiving end, paying 500 per cent higher cost. "Under the proposed system, the PGI will be able to ensure discounts up to 70 per cent for the patients while charging a minimal amount as rent from the chemist. Offering 70 per cent discount on the medicine priced at Rs 26, the chemist will still be able to save Rs 7.8, while paying much lesser rent," said a PGI official. The institute is currently reviewing the effectiveness of the proposed system. PGI's official spokesperson Manju Wadwalkar said, "The authorities are in the process of examining the pros and cons of the new system." In a bid to ensure maximum discount to the patients, three Jan Aushadhi Centres were opened with much publicity by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at three government hospitals, including the PGI, over the past two years. The scheme, however, has fallen flat in the city, with all three centres running out of stock for the past many months.
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Accused roaming scot-free
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 13 After recovering around Rs 70 lakh from the traders on whose behalf the bogus VAT returns had been filed, the department has simply written to the police to register an FIR against the erring traders. "We have made the recovery. Now, it is up to the police whether to verify and take action," said an official. The officials at the Sector 17 police station have sought information from the department. The scam had been detected during a special audit by the excise and taxation department. It had been revealed that over 100 local traders, comprising jewellers, dealers of motor spare parts and stockists, had filed bogus VAT returns. "The department did not bother to dig into the details about the persons who actually forged the papers. Though recovery has been made, the guilty should have been identified by the department," said an official.
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Rainwater harvesting still a dream in many schools
Chandigarh, September 13 Harbir Singh, principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Karsan, said the work was supposed to be completed within a month’s time, but the contractors have failed to do so. “Even the school playground is damaged due to the construction work here. It ought to be completed at the earliest to avoid any untoward incident in the school,” the principal said. He said the contractor had left the boundary wall broken which was repaired last week. RK Ranchan, headmaster of Government High School, Maloya colony, said the construction work resumed in the school recently. The contractors told him that the work would be completed within 15 to 20 days. He also said that the contractor had created a mess by digging up a big portion of the school playground in the school and that the they have been facing inconvenience for past three to four months. The work is also pending at Government Model High School, Sector 28. Principal Asha Johar said the school is facing inconvenience due to the pending work. The school authorities have to be vigilant throughout the day to avoid any mishap. As per the information, the scheme had been initiated by the Chandigarh Administration to increase groundwater table. As many as 46 schools in Chandigarh were selected to install the system. Chief Engineer (UT) SK Chadha said the construction work has been delayed due to the rains. Moreover, schools are sensitive areas and going by the nature of the project, a certain degree of precaution needs to be adopted during the construction. All the contractors will be told to complete the work as early as possible. One of the contractors, Akhil Sharma, said the unexpected rains delayed the work. No work could be done on August due to rains. Moreover, digging up an underground water tank, which is required for rainwater harvesting system, during the rains is not advisable particularly inside the school premises.
official speak
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World Oral Health Day celebrated
Chandigarh, September 13 As many as 160 students from the schools of tricity participated in the quiz and freehand drawing competition.
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Monthly salary of UT’s contractual employees revised
The decision would benefit hundreds of contractual employees working in several department of the UT Administration. In education department, there are about 200 contractual employees. Many teachers said their salary should have been revised from April onwards. They, however, welcomed the decision citing the decent hike given to them in the revised salary. As per the information, the revision has been made as per the grade pay of the post, which varies from Rs 1,300 to Rs 10,000. The revision is also granted to those employees who are entitled to the grant of non-practicing allowance. The benefits of the revised emoluments will equally be applicable to all employees deployed on contract basis against the sanctioned posts. DA has been calculated at 65 per cent. The contractual teachers under Sarav Shiksha Abhiyan are, however, not covered under the said revision. The revision of SSA employees depends upon the discretion of SSA Society, Chandigarh, and Project Approval Board, Government of India. Members of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers Welfare Association met DPI schools yesterday and demanded that the executive committee of the SSA should also endorse the same revision for their salary.
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BSNL flayed
Interactive session held Environment Day mohali scan Road safety
Teacher's Day Film show
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PU student elections Poll expenses crossed the limit of Rs 5,000 per person; PU still silent on the matter Amit Sharma Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 13
The report mentions ten Lyngdoh violations, including parties at disco, lavish dinners at restaurants, movies at multiplexes and uphill trips arranged by the student organisations to woo voters. The fact-finding report prepared by the police clearly points towards the poll expenditure crossing the specified limit of Rs 5,000 per candidate. The police report mentions about fresher parties were thrown to ensure students’ support in the elections. The report states a student party organised a bash at a discotheque in Mani Majra, another party organised a dinner at Nayagaon and a lavish dinner was arranged at a Sector-26 restaurant. Tents erected by each party along with the chairs ordered added up to Rs 2,500 per day. These tents and chairs were in use for eight consecutive days till elections got over. The police in its report has also confirmed that the students were taken out on trips to Kasauli and other neighboring tourist spots. Quoting an incident, the police has stated that one of the student organisations paid Rs 14,000 for two buses for ferrying students to and from Kasauli. The statements of the bus operators have also been recorded by the police to confirm that the buses were booked by the student organisations. The students were also taken to a Hotel near Parwanoo to enjoy a lavish party. The student organisations also arrange for movie shows for the PU students at local multiplexes, the report states. In addition to flouting the expenditure limit, different organisations have also been found to be guilty of using cars for canvassing. The police has also submitted proof in form of a compact disk to the university. DSP (Central) Ashish Kapoor said the report highlighting the Lyngdoh violations has been sent to the university authorities and now it’s up to the university to take action. The PU authorities are, however, silent on the matter and are waiting for the candidates who contested the elections to submit an audit of expenses made by them during elections. Sources at PU said the students of various departments were also bribed a day prior to the polls. The police has even recorded the statement of the contractor who provided a DJ system to nine girls’ hostels to celebrate the victory after the elections. The winning party had spent Rs 36,000 to hire a music system. Various violations listed by police * On August 30, a party was thrown by a student organisation at Nayagaon. The party started at 7 pm and ended after a dinner time. * Trip to Kasauli was organised by one of the student organizations. Two busses were booked for ferrying the students. * A day before the election, students in group of 100 were taken out for movie shows at local multiplexes. * On August 31, a fresher party was organised at a disco at NAC in Mani Majra. * Vehicles used to canvass prior to elections.
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PU students protest over re-admission issue
Chandigarh, September 13
The same was followed by the university after switching over to the semester system. However, the university rejected a similar case of a student from the geology department. Singh said Rajesh Swangna, a MSc first year student, after failing to clear his re-appears had applied for the re-admission in the department. “The case was forwarded to the Dean University Instructions (DUI) by the department for approval. However, DUI in return asked the department to act as per the rule,” he said. The PUCSC president said the students in 2011 were re-admitted in a similar fashion, however, DUI referred the case back to department. The students raised slogans against the PU authorities on which the hostel wardens reached the spot to pacify the students Dean Student Welfare AS Ahluwalia said the issue has been addressed and the case is under consideration.
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Visually impaired students to stage play at PU
Chandigarh, September 13 The production of the play was made possible with the support of Indra Chhibbar, Manju Suri, Alka Gupta and Reva Gandhi. The support of the chairperson and staff of the Hindi Department of the Panjab University has also made efforts to successfully stage the play.
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With the recovery of Rs 1.04 crore and jewellery from Fiza’s bank lockers on Thursday, the value of Fiza’s moveable and immovable property is over
Rs4 crore. The police had earlier recovered Rs 92 lakh and 1.5 kg of gold jewellery worth
Rs 45 lakh from her house. In her 16 bank accounts in various banks and two post offices, the police had recovered
Rs 28.50 lakh. The value of five marla house at Sector 48, which her parents reportedly had given her, is said to be around
Rs 1.5 crore. Fiza also had two cars — a Honda CRV and a Santro.
Sisters eager to get their share
Chandigarh, September 13
