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Transporters at loggerheads over loading of goods at Attari
Neighbour among 3 held for killing NRI woman
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Cong leaders put up united face for Vijay Sathi
Master plan for jail reforms on anvil
Congress to distribute 10,000 CDs of Majithia’s expletives
Akali Dal will stick to NDA’s choice on PM candidate, says Sukhbir
Despite constraints, India ahead in space sector: Kasturirangan
Gang-rape victim writes to Fazilka SSP
Anti-torture Bill to be tabled
in Budget Session: Ashwani
Government to allow medical colleges to retain earnings
More youth now taking up law: Sikri
CJI walks down memory lane at varsity function
HC: Act against revenue official in 2 months
Rap for BSNL in promotion matter
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Transporters at loggerheads over loading of goods at Attari
Amritsar, February 2 Talking to mediapersons here today, Danial Bhatti, who owns Danial Transport Company, alleged that the ATU was illegally charging Rs 500 per truck from transporters hailing from other parts of the state. He alleged: "The ATU men do not allow other transporters to load imported goods from the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Attari, which are meant to be delivered within Punjab, while they charge 'gunda tax' of Rs 500 per truck for permitting them to take the goods to other states". He alleged his trucks were taken away and employees thrashed by ATU men on January 31 as they had loaded goods which were to be delivered in Punjab. He said though the police had registered a case against them, he faced threat to his life. ATU leader Harinderpal Singh termed Danial's allegations as baseless and claimed they had raised objection as he had overloaded his trucks. He claimed it was the police which impounded his trucks. He said they had reached an agreement according to which only the transporters from Attari could load goods meant to be delivered in Punjab. On the allegation of charging illegal entry fee, he said they were charging Rs 200 per truck for providing facilities in and around Attari, which they charged from their own trucks as well. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said there was no formal arrangement that allowed only Attari transporters to ferry goods meant to be delivered within Punjab. "Though the proposal was discussed, there were so many issues that we didn't go ahead with it." He also termed the charges of Rs 200 per truck being imposed by the truck union as illegal. He said an FIR was lodged in this connection recently. Aggarwal said Attari transporters' move to tow away some overloaded vehicles a couple of days ago was uncalled for. They should have brought the issue to the notice of the authorities concerned instead of acting on their own, he added. This is not the first time that the transporters have come face to face over the issue of loading goods from Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Attari. In July 2011, traders had alleged that overcharging by the Attari Truck Union would render their business economically unviable and had sought immediate intervention of the state government over the issue, which was later resolved.
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Neighbour among 3 held for killing NRI woman
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 2
Fatehgarh Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) HS Mann said one Jagjit Singh, resident of Balongi village in Mohali, had lodged an FIR with Khamano police that her grandmother, who had returned from Italy, was found murdered on January 20. The SSP said he had entrusted the case to SP (D) Gurpreet Singh, who along with Station House Officer (SHO) Gurmeet Singh and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) constituted a team, and cracked the murder case. He said the police had arrested one Nirmal Singh, the victim’s neighbour, who admitted to killing Amarjit during questioning. The SSP said the deceased had two daughters, who were married, and her son lived in Italy. She had returned from Italy and was living alone in Khamano. He said Amarjit had given the 10 acres of land she owned on lease to Hakam Singh and Rupinder Singh. Nirmal Singh worked on the land as a labourer. He said Nirmal Singh and his wife enjoyed a good relationship with the deceased. Mann said Nirmal Singh along with his two friends identified as Lakhbir Singh and Jagjit Singh tried to steal from the house. When Amarjit resisted, they killed her with a pair of scissors lying there. She died on the spot, he added.
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SAD, Cong candidates file nomination papers
Moga, February 2 Jain was accompanied by former SAD Minister Tota Singh and a few other local party leaders. His son Akshit Jain filed nomination as the covering candidate. In his affidavit filed before Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer Joram Beda, Jain admitted that a criminal case under sections 419 and 471 of the IPC was registered against him at IGI Airport police station, New Delhi, in 1988, in which he was convicted without any imprisonment. He was released on probation after furnishing a bond of Rs 5,000 and cost of Rs 3,000 on one-year surety. A case under sections 132 and 135 (I) (A) of the Customs Act, 1962, was also registered against him. The court acquitted him of the charges. However, it has been learnt that the Customs had filed an appeal against his acquittal, which is pending in the Delhi High Court. Another case under sections 2(I), 3, 5, 21 and 36 of the Punjab Apartments and Property Regulations Act, 1995, was registered against him and all his family members on August 26, 2007. As per the disclosures in the affidavit, Jain’s income has decreased from Rs 7,37,210 as on March 31, 2010, to Rs 4,01,876 as on March 31, 2011. His wife’s income, however, has increased from Rs 4,63,460 as on March 31, 2010, to Rs 6,18,635 as on March 31, 2011. His Hindu undivided family’s income has also decreased from Rs 4,91,192 as on March 31, 2010, to Rs 4,61,141 as on March 31, 2011. Jain has cash in hand amounting to Rs 5,43,000, as against Rs 18,69,000, which he had disclosed in the January 2012 elections. But, his bank deposits have increased to Rs 44,96,215 as compared to Rs 20,73,740 in the last elections. His investment in bonds/mutual funds is Rs 15,27,000 and investments in NSS/postal savings Rs 5,79,592. He owns Innova and Ceilo cars and 500 gm gold. He has properties worth Rs 30-lakh, value of which has decreased from Rs 1.25 crore in last elections. His wife has properties worth Rs 88,22,500, son Rs 1.46 crore while the joint value of properties under Hindu undivided family is Rs 1.25 crore in factory/business account.
Cong leaders put up united face for Vijay Sathi
Moga, February 2 In his affidavit, Sathi declared that no criminal case had ever been registered against him, thereby, reflecting his clean image. He also disclosed that no criminal suit was pending against him in any court of law. As per disclosures in the affidavit, Sathi has cash in hand Rs 1.25 lakh, bank deposits worth Rs 8.80 lakh, investment in bonds/mutual funds Rs 1.22 lakh and has no investments in any saving schemes. Sathi owns an Indica car that he bought for Rs 3.90 lakh and has no gold ornaments. He has properties worth Rs 20 lakh and owes Rs 73,566 to a bank, which he got to purchase the car. Before filing the papers, all senior leaders of the party, including Brar, Amarinder, Bhattal, Jakhar, Partap Singh Bajwa and several MLAs and ex-MLAs, went to Sathi's residence in the morning. They all performed a 'havan' in nearby Arya Samaj Mandir as per Hindu rituals to seek divine blessings, probably playing the Hindu card to allure the 65,000 votes of the community in this urban-dominated constituency. The members of Arya Samaj along with hundreds of locals from various walks of life were present on the occasion. Later, all the leaders led Sathi to the newly opened party office from where they went to file the nomination. The filing of nomination papers was kept a low key affair due to strict instructions of the Election Commission. Talking to mediapersons, Amarinder said the mood of the people was "against" the government in general and Joginder Pal Jain in particular because he had "betrayed" the 62,000 people who had voted for him in the last elections.
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Master plan for jail reforms on anvil
Chandigarh, February 2 Badal asked the jail authorities to take measures to tone up their administrative system to avoid untoward incidents in jails. He said in order to meet new challenges effectively, immediate reforms were required to provide security and fulfil basic requirements of inmates like provision of a nutritive diet and proper health care facilities. The Chief Minister asked them to re-introduce the nambardar system in jails which he said would help in creating a cordial atmosphere between prisoners and the jail administration. He approved a sum of Rs 1.72 crore for immediate maintenance of various jails across the state. He also approved the utilisation of the annual lease money that the Jail Department was getting for development works from the Industries Department against a chunk of its land in
Ludhiana.
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Congress to distribute 10,000 CDs of Majithia’s expletives
Chandigarh, February 2 In a statement, Punjab Congress president (PCC) Capt Amarinder Singh said the party had made 10,000 copies of the CD and that these would be distributed among the people. The PCC president maintained that it was important to screen and play the CD to show the actual face of this government to the people who were fed up with the state of affairs. He said, the CD only reflected what was going on all over Punjab. On getting permission for playing the CD, the PCC president said people had already downloaded and recorded it since it had been shown live from the Vidhan Sabha. He said the clip was telecast live with the Speaker’s permission.
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Akali Dal will stick to NDA’s choice on PM candidate, says Sukhbir
Amritsar, February 2 Sukhbir was in the city today to participate in the All India Motor Transport Congress meet on road safety. On Narendra Modi as NDA’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he said the NDA had a common minimum programme and all its constituents were bound to follow it. He said once the PM candidate was decided after unanimous ratification by the NDA, the SAD would not have any objections. He claimed the NDA would come to power at the Centre in 2014 as the people were “fed up” with high inflation and “lopsided” policies of the UPA government. On claims by state Congress leaders on possible tampering of EVMs in the Moga byelection, Sukhbir said these statements were aimed at diverting the attention of the electorate as the Congress could not pick holes in the policies of his government. He said the SAD would not have any objection if the Congress was able to convince the EC to use EVMs manufactured as per its specifications. He claimed the SAD would win this byelection. He said the people were rejecting the Congress for its scams and record increase in the prices of essential commodities.
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Despite constraints, India ahead in space sector: Kasturirangan
Ropar, February 2 IIT convocation Ninety-six graduates received degrees at the function, which was presided over by Dr T Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT, Ropar. Addressing the gathering, Dr Kasturirangan said: "Given the right opportunity, goals and ambience, our youngsters are second to none in accomplishing any complex task". Talking about the success story of the Indian space programme, he said: "Despite constraints placed by developed countries, India launched its own remote sensing satellite 'Bhaskara' in 1975. The next big challenge our scientists took over was to build a satellite comparable in sophistication to the American and French satellites. "These countries launched such satellites in the weight categories of 2,000 kg. Though our PSLV had only a 1,200 kg capability, our scientists were able to design and build a satellite which was launched in 1988. Team work is behind the success in our space programmme. India is now globally recognised as a significant space faring nation despite constraints placed by advanced countries on the flow of technologies, components and equipment which made us inspired individually and collectively to summon up our innovative skills to design and develop state-of-the-art systems, he said. Emphasising upon the use of science and technology, the former ISRO chairman said the modern history had shown only those countries which could acquire capability to develop and apply science and technology had found great success to grow wealth and improve living conditions. The government had crafted an ambitious agenda for science and technology in the Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-17), he said, adding: "The thrust is to make science and technology an effective instrument for the development of the country. While one per cent of the GDP is allocated for research in the field, the Prime Minister has assured of a contribution of another one per cent. Talking of the future plans of the country in the space sector, he said: "We have moved to even more complex phase, which is of reaching Mars. A journey of 300 days, the Mangalyaan mission will be realised in October 2013". IIT Director MK Surappa said the IIT would set up a centre of excellence in bio-medical engineering in collaboration with the PGIMER, Chandigarh. Faculty members of the institute were working with PGI specialists in this regard, he added.
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Gang-rape victim writes to Fazilka SSP
Fazilka, February 2 The 17-year-old girl’s mother from Noorshah village in Fazilka had in her FIR alleged that her daughter was gangraped by Vicky from the same village and three unidentified persons on December 9, last year. They reportedly kidnapped and gangraped her. Sadar police, Fazilka, had booked Vicky and his accomplices on December 28 on charges of rape under Section 376 of IPC. Now the victim has complained to the SSP that no action has been taken even after two months of the incident.
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Anti-torture Bill to be tabled
in Budget Session: Ashwani
Gurdaspur, February 2 “If everything goes as planned, it will be a landmark decision. The aim is women empowerment. The Delhi gang-rape has brought to the fore certain anomalies in the law, which need to be plugged,” he said. The Minister said he had written to the Prime Minister and the Planning Commission to release more grants to the Law and Justice Ministry so that “we can strengthen the existing laws after reviewing them”. Ashwani Kumar also spoke about the Criminal Law Amendment Order, which was lying with the President for consent.
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Government to allow medical colleges to retain earnings
Chandigarh, February 2 Confirming the development, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Vini Mahajan said, “The Finance Department has agreed to the proposal. But, the Auditor-General Office had pointed out some glitches, which too are being sorted out.” The issue of financial requirements of the medical institutes had featured during the compiling of the recent “Report of the Task Group on Health and Medical Education of Punjab Governance Reforms Commission”. Its mission was: “Improving the Standards of Medical Education in Punjab”. These recommendations pertain to the working of government medical colleges in Patiala and Amritsar. Government Medical College (Amritsar) Principal Dr SS Shergill said, “Our average annual collection through user charges from patients and fee from medical students is Rs 15 crore. Under the existing conditions, we are supposed to deposit the entire amount with the Treasury.” A senior functionary said that the colleges being allowed to use collected money directly would save them a lot on account of official rigmarole involved in getting own money back. The report also pointed out: In recent times, there has been a virtual pause in terms of senior doctors shifting to private medical colleges largely because of much higher remuneration; the medical faculty is not delivering as per its potential; working hours of the faculty should be increased; there is need for upgrading the medical records section for maintaining the medical history of patients to help whenever they revisit the facility and the library section of hospitals should be upgraded to meet the current requirements. Also, the report pointed out that the mode of teaching did not match the requirements of the present day, particularly with regard to adding latest teaching aids, which had gone far beyond classroom lectures.
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More youth now taking up law: Sikri
Mohali, February 2 The speakers at the inauguration of the ‘India rounds of the fourth Leiden-Sarin International Air Law Moot Court Competition’ held at the Army Institute of Law said this, and much more, today. Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri of the Punjab and Haryana High Court recalled his college days to say that youngsters then opted for the legal profession as they had nothing else to do. “It was not treated as other professions such as engineering and chartered accountancy. But, things have changed now,” he said. Chief Justice Sikri said students taking up the five-year course after plus two indicated their desire to pursue a career in law. “It indicates that the students are taking up the legal profession consciously,” he said. His words found an echo in the speech of Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir. He too had said that earlier, law was never taken as a serious option. But now youngsters were joining law colleges, and five years were enough for them to make up their mind on the discipline they wanted to pursue within the realm of legal studies. Addressing the gathering, Justice SS Sodhi, president of the Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation-cum-former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, talked about the foundation, and how the moot court competition came into being. Justice Sodhi said, “This moot court competition, the first of its kind in the world, is the result of a collaboration between the Sarin Memorial Legal Aid Foundation located in Chandigarh and the Air & Space Law Institute of Leiden University in The Netherlands. “The Sarin Foundation was set up in 1995 in memory of two lawyers - both unique in their own ways. Harbans Lal Sarin, senior advocate, was a first generation lawyer who joined the profession in 1932. The second advocate I refer to is his son Ranjit Lal Sarin, who in just over a decade had shot into prominence in legal circles, but passed-away at the young age of 37 within the precincts of the highest temple of justice, the Supreme Court of India.” Chief Justice Sodhi said in the 17 years of its existence, the foundation has helped in public causes involving the environment, the downtrodden and the under privileged, by appearing in many cases as amicus or the friend of the court. It filed a writ petition in 1998, HK Puri vs the State of Haryana, on behalf of a petitioner who lost his 26-year-old son in an accident on National Highway One (NH1). The petition is still pending and has monitored the four-laning of NH1 from Delhi to Parwanoo and is now doing the same for six-laning. He said Nitin, the youngest grandson of HL Sarin was studying for an advanced LLM in Leiden in 2008. The International Institute of Air and Space Law had been planning to hold an International Air-Law Moot, but the event never materialised for one reason or the other. “Thanks to Nitin an MOU was signed between Leiden University and the Sarin Foundation and the Leiden-Sarin International Air Law Moot Court Competition was born,” Justice Sodhi said. The best four teams will be selected to participate in the finals to be held at Abu Dhabi from March 9 to 12, 2013, he added.
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CJI walks down memory lane at varsity function
Patiala, February 2 The CJI was the chief guest at the first-ever convocation function held at the university. Appreciating girl students, he said, “I see a majority of medals being bagged by girl students these days.” He said it was good to see that students from across the country were enrolled in the university. Recalling his initial years in court, the CJI said he was always eager to learn and was keenly involved in his profession, which helped him establish himself. Urging lawyers to be more courteous towards their clients and courts, he said he believed lawyers should never try to deceive the court. “In deceiving the court, the lawyer loses his respect and it hurts me badly when I come across such lawyers,” he said. “Though initial years are hard as one hardly gets paid but once you start doing well in the court, money is never a constraint for a good lawyer,” said Kabir. Earlier in the day, the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, AK Sikri, who is also the Chancellor of the RGNUL, gave away medals and degrees to as many as 173 meritorious students from the 2011-12 batch. Palvi Sinha Chowdhary, an ex-student of the university, bagged seven medals.
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HC: Act against revenue official in 2 months
Chandigarh, February 2 The directions to look into the complaints against Samana Naib Tehsildar came on a petition filed in public interest by Bhagwan Dass. In his petition against the State of Punjab and its authorities, filed through counsel HC Arora, Bhagwan Dass had earlier asked for ordering an inquiry against the Naib Tehsildar. Arora had contended that in the past one year the Naib Tehsildar “has entered and sanctioned a large number of mutations on the basis of unregistered wills, which is clearly contrary to a circular dated February 24, 2006”. He contended that Bhagwan Dass made complaints to this effect to the Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Patiala Commissioner, Patiala Deputy Commissioner and Punjab Director-Vigilance. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain asserted that the complaints were made on January 17, 2013, and in less than a month, the petitioner approached the court. The Bench added: “It would, therefore, be appropriate to give some time to these authorities to look into the complaints made by the petitioner. This petition is, accordingly, disposed of with direction to the authorities to whom complaints are made to verify the allegations made in the petition. “If these are true, corrective measures, which are necessary, should also be taken by these authorities. We expect that appropriate consideration shall be bestowed to the complaints made by the petitioner and action finalised within two months from today”.
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Rap for BSNL in promotion matter
Chandigarh, February 2 Dismissing a petition by the BSNL, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri verbally observed in the open court that “the respondent has lost one eye, but petitioner appears to have lost its complete vision”. The respondent employee of BSNL had cleared a competitive test, but was disqualified for promotion to post of junior telecom officer allegedly due to loss of one eye. Turning to literature to support his assertion, the Chief Justice referred to a quote by Swami Vivekananda on the loss of vision. Verbally, the Chief Justice also referred to a book "No Pity", the opening words of which are "able cannot understand disabled”.
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between the Attari Truck Union (ATU) and transporters from other parts of the state has resurfaced with a transporter accusing ATU men of taking away his truck and abducting his drivers, besides snatching cash, mobiles and documents from them.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Joginder Pal Jain today filed his nomination papers for the February 23 Moga assembly
bypoll.
Congress candidate Vijay Sathi also filed his nomination paper before for the Moga assembly bypoll today.
Putting up a united face, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh, Congress Working Committee member Jagmeet
Brar, former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Leader of the Opposition Sunil Jakhar were among the leaders who stood by Sathi when he filed the nomination.
SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has said the party would accept the prime ministerial candidate as suggested by the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA).
The first convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT),
Ropar, held here today. Eminent space scientist and Member (Science), Planning Commission, Dr K Kasturirangan was the chief guest on the occasion.
Union Minister for Law and Justice Ashwani Kumar today said the ‘Prevention of Torture Bill’ will be tabled in the coming Budget Session of Parliament.
On his first visit to his hometown Gurdaspur after being given the new portfolio of Law and Justice, the Union Minister was accorded a warm welcome by his supporters at various places in the city. The Minister said once the Bill was passed into an Act, it would help minimise custodial deaths.
