Bathinda, October 17
A virtual court started functioning in Bathinda today. Undertrials lodged in the jail here appeared before the court through videoconferencing while the judge concerned heard them. The next date of hearing was fixed without the accused being physically present in the court.

Around 24 cases were taken up today wherein the next date of hearing was fixed for October 31 for all the undertrials. Most of the accused were booked under the NDPS Act.

District and Sessions Judge SK Aggarwal said the motive behind holding videoconferencing was to overcome the problem of arranging police escort each time the undertrials were produced before the court.

"It will help check the possibility of prisoners escaping from police custody while being taken to the court or brought back to jail," he said. It aims at saving manpower, money and the time spent on producing the accused physically in the court.

The virtual court is expected to save a lot of time of the judiciary. "The work of extending remand will now get centralised at one place and the judges would be spared this work. This is expected to bring a much needed breather for the judiciary. It will not only speed up the process of justice delivery but will also improve the efficiency of the entire system," Aggarwal said.

He added that in the first phase, the facility would be used for granting extension of remand of undertrials. For evidence, the accused will have to be physically present in the court. A magistrate would be deputed to give remand through videoconferencing from 2 pm to 3 pm.

Aggarwal added that in case an undertrial wanted to personally meet the judge, he or she would be given the required audience as per the rules. "Through video, we are also able to see the physical state of the accused. If he is found ill or looking out of place, it will be promptly pointed out to the jail authorities," he added.

Additional district and sessions judge Sukhdev Singh, additional district and sessions judge DS Johal, additional district and sessions judge (ad hoc) Lachhman Singh, civil judge senior division Harinder Kaur, CJM Harjeet Singh, secretary of the District Legal Services Authority Kawaljit Singh, additional civil judge senior division Jasbir Kaur, civil judge junior division Karan Garg, civil judge junior division Deepti Goyal, president of the Bar Association Ranjit Jalal and secretary of the Bar Association Gurvinder Mann were also present on the occasion.

Fact file

* Every undertrial appearing before the court was being asked about his or her well-being. In one of the NDPS Act cases, an accused, Ashwani Kumar, met his advocate. When asked if he wanted to ask anything from his advocate, he promptly enquired if his bail application has been put up or not.

* An undertrial, Janak Lal, was shabbily dressed. Judge SK Aggarwal directed the jail authorities to provide him with clean clothes seeking the help of the NGOs working in the jail precincts.

* Appearing before a civil judge, junior division, an undertrial in a theft case pleaded innocence and early disposal of his case. He said he was lodged in the jail for the past two months and had repeatedly requested that his case be disposed of at the earliest.

* Of all the accused presented before the court, only two were women. Surjit Kaur and Bhajan Kaur were relatives and were arrested in a case of land dispute. 

Bathinda, October 17
The DOTS Plus treatment, meant for the tuberculosis (TB) patients, who are resistant to other TB medicines, is now available in government hospitals.

District TB Control Officer Dr Ashok Monga said six patients were already being given the DOTS treatment while nine had tested positive. The treatment became available in Bathinda district around 15 days ago.

Under the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, the treatment is broadly meant for those TB patients who have become resistant to the category one and the category two treatments for TB.

Under the DOTS Plus programme, a patient is administered 180 injections and medicines over a period of two years to two-and-a-half years. The cost of treatment per patient is Rs 2.5 lakh, which is available free in the government sector.

In the first category of treatment, the patients are given medicines for six months regularly. Those who discontinue the treatment are then given a one year course. And those who skip even the second course are given the DOTS Plus treatment.

So far, 52 samples have been sent for sputum testing under the DOTS Plus programme. Nine of these have tested positive so far and the treatment of six patients has begun.

Meanwhile, as per the quarterly report of the TB control programme (July to September 2012), 170 new cases have been detected. With this, the number of TB cases in the district has reached 483, including 188 females.

The maximum number of new TB patients, 35, has been detected in two age groups of 15 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years. Five children below 14 years of age have also been found suffering from the disease.

Dr Monga said people should not stop the treatment midway. "We have a chain of ASHA workers and others who prove instrumental in administering daily doses to TB patients. If a patient does not turn up some day, our health workers do not mind visiting the patient's house to ensure there is no break in the treatment," he said.

Fact file

* The DOTS Plus treatment given to those who have become resistant to all other TB medicines.

* The treatment became available in Bathinda district 15 days ago.

* Under the DOTS Plus programme, a patient is administered 180 injections and medicines over a period of two years to two-and-a-half years.

Bathinda, October 17
Triple riding on a bike proved fatal for two persons while the third is battling injuries. It is learnt that three farmers were returning from a market of second-hand tractors in Talwandi Sabo on a motorbike when the mishap took place. While the two, including the driver, could not survive, the third was admitted to the emergency ward of the Civil Hospital with serious injuries.

Volunteers of the Sahara Jan Sewa, an NGO, Neeraj Kumar and Teja Singh, said they rushed to the spot after receiving a phone call from a passerby about the mishap.

The three farmers were lying in a pool of blood for quite some time. Nobody volunteered to pick up the injured.

They were provided with first aid and rushed to a nearby hospital. However, two of them were declared dead by the doctors there.

The volunteers of the NGO said the accident took place on the Tungwali-Bhucho Mandi Road at around 7 pm.

The deceased have been identified as Rajpal Singh (40) and Bhola Singh (50) and the injured as Tejpal Singh (40).

All were the residents of Bhucho Kalan village in Bathinda district.

The relatives and family friends of the victims said the three had gone to purchase a tractor from the market in Talwandi Sabo but could not find one that they liked.

They were returning from the market when an unidentified vehicle hit their bike following which they all fell on the road.

Unconfirmed reports said the vehicle that hit the farmers' bike had been intercepted by the police. The matter was brought to the notice of the policemen. Investigations into the case have begun.

Bathinda, October 17
A resident of Guru Nanakpura Mohalla, Bathinda, who was found carrying 25 kg of poppy husk in March 2005 along with a resident of Tarn Taran, has been awarded one year of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and a fine of Rs 3,000.

In case of default in the payment of fine, the accused would have to further undergo three months of imprisonment.

SK Aggarwal, the judge in a special court, awarded the sentence. The accused, Jaspal Singh (48), was arrested by the Thermal police while he was carrying the contraband in a car bearing the registration number of Delhi.

The co-accused in the case, Baljinder Singh of Tarn Taran, was acquitted due to lack of evidence against him.

Jaspal Singh was booked under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and was charged under Sections 15 (b) of the Act.

As per the records, the accused was arrested by a police team comprising SI Gurdeep Singh, ASI Surjan Singh and constable Gurdit Singh and others.

The co-accused Baljinder was arrested after five years in June 2010 and a supplementary challan was presented against him in the court. 

Bathinda, October 17
The dharna by the rural postal employees outside the main post office today entered its second day.

Division president of the union, Nachhattar Singh Khemuana and secretary, Balwinder Kaur Khara, while addressing the agitating employees, said on the one hand, the Central Government is neglecting the employees of the postal department and on the other, it is claiming credit for ushering in development.

Khemuana said the employees working on part-time basis for the last 25 to 30 years are being paid only Rs 5, 000 to Rs 6,000 per month. The speakers demanded the regularisation of the services of the part-time employees and said they too should be given Rs 3,500 as bonus besides other basic facilities. The union demanded a ban on 25 per cent outside recruitment of the employees and the implementation of the National Insurance Scheme.

The protesting employees said if the government failed to provide respite to the employees, then they would be forced to come out on the streets along with their family members in protest.

Speaking on the occasion, the district-level members of the CPI (ML) demanded that the demands of the post office employees should be accepted by the government at the earliest. The leaders criticised the policies of the Central Government which, they said, were against the common man and supported the capitalists.

Meanwhile, the members of the Thermal Sangharsh Committee, Bathinda, today organised a gate rally in front of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP). The gate rally was held in the light of the proposed daylong strike tomorrow.

The thermal employees demanded that the arrears as per the pay scales of the staff should be released immediately.

They said that the class IV employees should be given one promotion every year and the mobile expenses incurred by the employees should also be paid.

The thermal plant workers said if the management of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) failed to resolve their problems, then they would intensify their agitation after tomorrow's strike and its onus would lie squarely on the management of the Powercom.

And in yet another dharna staged by the farmers against the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) today protested against what it said was the failure of the CCI to begin procurement. General secretary of BKU (Lakhowal), Puran Singh Shahkot, announced that the agitation would be intensified if the purchase is not begun soon by the CCI. The farmers alleged that the Cotton Corporation officials are deliberately supporting the business community which is offering the price of their produce on the basis of their own whims and fancies. Lack of a standardized procuring agency is also hampering procurement, said the farmers.

Yesterday, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugraha) had gheraoed the regional office of the CCI demanding immediate start of the procurement of cotton crop lying in grain markets of Bathinda.

Fact file

* Rural postal employees are demanding Rs 3,500 as bonus for part-time employees besides a ban on 25 per cent outside recruitment and the implementation of the National Insurance Scheme.

* The thermal employees demanded that the arrears should be paid immediately. They said the class IV employees should be given one promotion every year and the mobile expenses incurred by the employees should also be paid by the PSPCL.

Bathinda, October 17
A meeting of the District Planning Committee was held under Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Mohammad Tayyab today wherein different schemes and development works were discussed.

During the current fiscal year, Bathinda has received a budget of Rs 881.4 lakhs and funds have been issued to various departments as per their requirements. Rs 287.3 lakhs have already been withdrawn for various works and the details of the amount spent were produced before the committee.

Addressing the committee, Mohammad Tayyab directed the government officials to prepare utilisation certificates and submit the same. The district programme officer, district social welfare officer, advisor, statistical department and others presented their reports.

The reports mentioned that gates have been installed and boundary walls constructed on the premises of 124 RO water plants in the district. Issues related to drinking water and sewerage was also discussed.

Prominent among those present at the meeting included Talwandi Sabo in-charge of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Amarjit Singh Sidhu and SDM Ramvir, among others.

Bathinda, October 17
Eighteen students of the Government Senior Secondary School, Nehianwali, were conferred the state award at a camp of the Bharat Scouts and Guides held at Chandigarh.

In a press statement issued here today, principal, Bhupinder Kaur stated that 225 students took part in the camp that included 18 students from her school.

The teachers, Kamlesh Kumari and Baljit Singh, had accompanied the students. The guides were also briefed about the flag raising and lowering ceremony, hiking, trekking and camp fire etc.

Bathinda, October 17
Two eminent scientists have joined the Central University of Punjab (CUP), Bathinda. Anil Kumar Jain, former Director, SSS-National Institute of Renewable Energy, Kapurthala, has joined the university as professor and Dean, School of Environment and Earth Sciences while Ram Gopal Saini, former professor emeritus and former head, Departments of Genetics, Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, PAU, Ludhiana, has joined as invited professor and coordinator, Centre for Biosciences.

Jain has been the head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Director, School of Energy Studies for Agriculture at the PAU, Ludhiana.

He developed the course curriculum for the Ph.D programme in energy science and technology.

Saini has been a visiting scientist at the Plant Breeding Institute, University of Sydney, Australia and National Fellow, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). His work on wheat rusts has been acclaimed the world over. 

Bathinda, October 17
The girls’ team of the Bathinda district won the championship in the under-16 category at the 88th Punjab Athletic Championship held at Ferozepur recently. Sun Rise Public School's Khushwinder Kaur secured the first place in long jump and the second place in 100 metre and 200 metre races to win the gold and silver.

Rajwinder Kaur from the Government Senior Secondary School, Bhai Rupa, bagged gold medals in 1500 metre and 3000 metre race. Veerpal Kaur from the same school won the bronze in 400 metre race.

An athlete from the Sports School, Ghudda, Sharandeep Kaur, bagged the third place in the 100 metre hurdle, while Bhai Rupa school's athletes, Rajwinder, Khushwinder, Veerpal and Prabhjot secured the second place in medley relay.

Similarly, in the under-16 category for boys, Ravinder Singh from the Sports School, Ghudda, secured a silver medal in high jump, while in the under-18 category for girls, Pradeep Kaur from the Bhai Rupa school, bagged a silver medal each in long jump and triple jump.

In the under-20 category for girls and boys, Gurdeep Singh from the Bathinda coaching centre secured the third place in high jump, David from Baba Farid College secured the third place in triple jump while Jaspreet Kaur secured the third place in triple jump.

President of the District Athletics Association KPS Brar announced that the winners would be honoured soon for their splendid performance at the athletic championship held at Ferozepur.

Bathinda, October 17
A turban tying competition was held at Lord Rama Public School to make the students familiar about the cultural tradition of their state. Students of classes VI to X participated in the contest.

Gurparsad Singh of Class X, Davinderpal Singh and Navtaj Singh, both of class VI, were declared first, second and third, respectively. They were honoured with medals and books on Sikh literature. Medals were awarded to the participants.

In-charge, Sikh Prachar Committee, Bharpoor Singh and Head Parcharak, Malwa zone, Bhai Daya Singh, had organized the competition. School principal Suraj Setia, vice-principal Kiran Bansal, teachers Khushpinder Kaur and Daljit Kaur were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the school students also bagged the second position at the inter-school debate competition held at the Army Public School, Bathinda. The topic of the debate was "Our educational system is producing hard-core professionals devoid of values." The principal of the Army Public School honoured the winners of the debate competition.

The Lord Rama School team comprised three students: Palak Nagpal, Payal and Gautam Bansal. They were accompanied by their teachers Manisha Sharma and Rehi Setia. 

Bathinda, October 17
A district-level science fair is being held on October 18-19 at the MSD Public School. District science supervisor (DSS) Jarnail Singh Bhodipura and additional science supervisor Mahinder Pal Singh are organizing the event.

District Education Officer (Secondary) Hardeep Singh Taggar will inaugurate the science fair in which the first and second tehsil-level winners in every sub-theme will take part. The main theme of the fair is science and society, which has been further divided into six sub-themes. Besides, on-the-spot slogan writing competition and essay writing competition will also be held. DSS team members Rajiv Bhatia and Shyam Sunder will be a part of the organizing team.