B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Muktsar awaits welfare officer
Muktsar, December 12
Despite the detection of irregularities in the disbursement of pension in Muktsar district recently, no regular district social security and welfare officer has been appointed here for almost six years now. The officer, who holds the charge of Muktsar district, also holds the additional charge of three more districts — Bathinda, Fazilka and Ferozepur. Moreover, the department is functioning with just two clerks, a helper and a data entry operator, who comes here for only three days a week.

SAD, Cong workers’ past under scanner
Faridkot, December 12
While the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are engaged in mudslinging following the killing of an ASI of the Punjab Police in Amritsar district, the intelligence wing of the state police has reportedly started re-examining the credentials of the local Akali and Congress leadership. The compilation of the report by the intelligence wing has raised eyebrows within the two parties.

Muktsar awaits welfare officer
One official looking after Bathinda, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Muktsar districts
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, December 12
Despite the detection of irregularities in the disbursement of pension in Muktsar district recently, no regular district social security and welfare officer has been appointed here for almost six years now.

The officer, who holds the charge of Muktsar district, also holds the additional charge of three more districts — Bathinda, Fazilka and Ferozepur. Moreover, the department is functioning with just two clerks, a helper and a data entry operator, who comes here for only three days a week.

A number of beneficiaries have alleged in the past that their names were deleted from the list of beneficiaries without even conducting a survey.

Similarly, some employees of a private company were allegedly caught disbursing less pension amount to the beneficiaries through the recently started electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system in some villages in Lambi block.

Some villagers had staged protests before the district administrative complex (DAC) to draw attention towards the anomalies in the disbursement of pension. Still, the authorities concerned have not paid any attention towards the situation.

As per the details provided by the staff of the district social security and welfare office, it disburses pension to nearly 62,000 beneficiaries after every two months. However, after September 2006, no officer had held the charge of the district social security officer permanently.

"After the transfer of Charanjit Singh Mann in 2006, Harpal Singh got the additional charge in 2008. Thereafter, Charanjit Singh Mann got the charge for nearly two months and after that, Harpal Singh was again given the additional charge for four months in 2008. Thereafter, Rajwinder Singh Gill got the additional charge of Muktsar district. He was then promoted in October as a deputy director," said the staff of the district social security and welfare office.

Harpal Singh, additional district social security and welfare officer, said, "I hold the charge of the district social security and welfare officer of four districts. Before my posting here, Rajwinder Singh Gill had held the charge for almost four years, but he was also given the permanent charge of Muktsar district for only two-three months during his stint."

Asked how he manages four districts at the same time, Harpal Singh replied, "I am only able to attend the meetings in these four districts and that is why no permanent day has been fixed for my visit to any of the four districts. Most of the work is being done by the clerks."

SAD, Cong workers’ past under scanner
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, December 12
While the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are engaged in mudslinging following the killing of an ASI of the Punjab Police in Amritsar district, the intelligence wing of the state police has reportedly started re-examining the credentials of the local Akali and Congress leadership.

The compilation of the report by the intelligence wing has raised eyebrows within the two parties.

If in Akali Dal, as many as 47 assembly, tehsil and block-level party leaders are reportedly involved in criminal cases, in Congress, it is the conviction of a former vice-president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee in a drug smuggling case that can take the zing out of its rhetoric.

The information gathered reportedly reveals that a circle jathedar of the Akali Dal in Faridkot is facing a criminal case for the alleged abduction of a youth and his murder. In another case, this Akali leader was convicted by the court in a criminal case some time back. Presently, he is out on bail. Another Akali leader is facing theft charges and a case under the Mining and Minerals Act.

A national vice-president of the Youth Akali Dal in Faridkot is facing a criminal case for the offence of assaulting a police official and tearing his uniform. A local level Akali leader is presently languishing in the jail for the offence of kidnapping a minor girl.

A senior Akali leader and a famous transporter of the Jaitu area in Faridkot is facing a criminal case for assaulting PRTC employees. Another Akali leader is facing charges of attempt to murder and criminal assault. A former president of the youth wing of the Akali Dal was facing two criminal cases but was acquitted some days back.

A former chairman of the Market Committee in Faridkot was facing charges for violation of prohibitory orders in the district.

An Akali sarpanch is said to have been involved in incidents of hooliganism. Though there were a number of complaints against him, the action against him was taken only yesterday with the registration of a criminal case for firing gunshots in the air to intimidate a government official.

Even a topnotch Akali leader is facing a criminal case for assaulting a journalist in Kotkapura town.

Almost all these 47 accused possess licensed weapons. "The number of criminal cases against the Akali leaders is just the tip of the iceberg. These cases were registered after the victim approached the High Court or there was a prolonged agitation," said Avtar Singh Brar, former education minister and a senior Congress leader.

Most complaints against a person associated with the ruling SAD (B) got no response from the police, he alleged.

However, Avtar Singh Khosa, general counsel member of the SAD (B), said discipline is dear to the party. If some individual leaders are involved in a criminal case, it doesn't mean that all the Akalis are criminals, he said.

The move by the SAD (B) to scrutinize the credentials of all local party leaders is a step toward cleaning the organization of all such elements, he said.

State imposes 14.3% VAT on catering services
Now, shell out more for marriage in Punjab
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, December 12
The cash-strapped Punjab government has imposed VAT at the rate of 14.30 per cent on catering services at marriage palaces and fixed a target of collecting Rs 50 crore from it during the current financial year, putting an extra burden on the common man and entailing a rise in the cost of marriages.

A decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting of the state government presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal last week. A circular in this regard has been sent to the official of the excise and taxation department at all the district headquarters.

Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC), Moga, Hardip Bhamra said she called a meeting of the owners of all marriage palaces located within the district today and directed them to keep a proper record of all the bookings and purchase of essential commodities and other items being used in providing services at marriage ceremonies.

She said the department has issued directions to the marriage palaces to keep a record of the expenditure on air cooling, chairs, tables, carpets, utensils, crockery, tents, power usage, diesel, decoration and orchestra etc. They have been asked to collect the taxes as applicable on them.

Similarly, the hotels engaged for marriages should also keep such record along with the services like telephone, fax, internet, television, radio, music, conference hall, health club, swimming pool and collection of taxes on them from the parties concerned.

All the marriage palaces and hotels have also been asked to maintain a special register for booking marriages in a prescribed format, which would be authenticated by the authorities concerned of the excise and taxation department. All the bill books would be verified by the inspectors of the department.

Interestingly, the government has also made it mandatory that if the booking party hires own catering service, then it would be mandatory for the marriage palaces to get a copy of the bills of 'kariana' items and disclose it in the assessment of tax.

The department has issued a new form for getting L-50A permit for serving liquor at the marriage palaces. Now, the person seeking the permit would have to provide his identification card and telephone number so that it could be verified from them. The marriage palaces have been asked to ensure that liquor is bought from a particular vend as directed by the excise authorities.