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Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 22
A 20-member team of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences today visited Government Medical College, Patiala, to inspect the overall functioning of various departments of the college. The visit comes in the wake of the request put forward by the college authorities for increasing MBBS seats from 150 to 250 and MD seats from 120 to 189. The team also took stock of the infrastructure development plans that will be required in case the college is permitted to increase the seats.

Notably, while the Central Government has increased 3,595 MBBS seats throughout the country in 2012, not even a single seat has been increased in the government medical colleges of Punjab for the past 35 years, despite several meetings in this regard. To add to the woes, the Medical Council of India (MCI) had further banned admission to 150 seats in Chintpurni Medical College, Pathankot, which further decreased the total number of medical seats in the state by 150.

Following this, the college administration had prepared a proposal mentioning all structural changes, staff and space arrangements required for increasing MBBS seats from 150 to 250. The draft includes the details of land that has been earmarked for constructing various labs, library, wards and operation theatres as per the requirements of the MCI.

In the wake of this proposal, the team had visited the campus and after they sent a final report of the visit, it will be attached with the proposal and further sent to the MCI for their consideration.

Speaking to The Tribune in this regard, Dr KD Singh, principal of the college, said currently the college had 150 undergraduate seats and had sought an increase of 150 to 250 seats keeping in mind the increasing demands of students and parents.

“Upgradation of building is on since past few months. We have already started purchasing latest machinery and other equipment from the Rs 30-crore grant that was recently given by the Punjab Government. We have also identified land for the construction of building in the hospital as well as the medical college,” said the principal.

He said the Punjab Government had already sent a proposal for increasing the number of postgraduate seats in the college from 120 to 189 to the Central Government under the Upgradation/ Strengthening of Medical Colleges Scheme and the college was hopeful that it would soon get a go ahead in this regard.

Fatehgarh Sahib, May 22
The newly elected members of the Zila Parishad and Block Samitis belonging to the SAD (B), along with Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, paid obeisance at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and hold a press conference.

Addressing mediapersons, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra thanked the voters and said the people had reposed faith in the policies of the government and the SAD (B) under the leadership of Sukhbir Badal.

He said the party won 48 out of the 76 seats of the Block Samitis and 7 out of the 10 seats in the Zila Parishad. He said chairmen for the Block Samitis and the Zila Parishad would be elected unanimously as per the party policy.

He said these elections had exposed the Congress and the people had given a clear indication of what's going to happen in the coming Parliamentary elections.

When asked the Congress gave a tough fight to the SAD (B) in the rural areas, he said some of his own people joined hands with the opposition that’s why the Congress put up fight. Otherwise, it would have been a clean sweep.

Congress candidates gave unexpected fight to the SAD (B) in Sirhind, Amloh, Khera and Khamano as the Congress won 25 seats and the PPP got three seats. In the Khamano Block, the Congress and the PPP jointly got majority as they won nine out of the 15 seats and the SAD (B) could get only six seats. In Bassi Pathana, it was a clean sweep for the SAD (B).

Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary, SAD (B), and Halka in charge for the Fatehgarh Sahib Constituency, consolidated his position as he won all three Zila Parishad seats and two Block Samitis, Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib and Khera, falling in his constituency. He was also instrumental in getting the SAD (B) win two other Zila Parishad seats, Chunni and Dhunda, as a majority of the villages in these constituency were part of the Fatehgarh Sahib Constituency.

In the Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib Block Samiti elections, the SAD (B) won eight seats, while the Congress got seven seats. In the Amloh Block, the SAD (B) won nine seats and the Congress got seven seats. In the Khamano Block, the Congress and the PPP contested jointly. Here, the Congress won seven seats, PPP got two and the SAD (B) could win only 6 seats. In the Khera Block, the SAD (B) won 11 seats and the Congress got four seats. In the Bassi Pathana Block, the SAD (B) won 14 seats and the Congress could get only one seat.

Ambala, May 22
Two persons died in separate incidents after allegedly consuming some poisonous substance yesterday night.

According to information, Satish Kumar (45), a resident of a colony close to the Manav Chowk, was brought to the Civil Hospital in a serious condition yesterday night.

Hospital sources said he had consumed some poisonous substance. Doctors referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh, where he breathed his last.

In another incident, Satpal (25), a resident of Naggal village, died after consuming some poisonous substance. His body was found lying near a petrol pump today in the morning. He was brought to the Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

The police is investigating both cases.

Ropar, May 22
The Punjab Government is soon to resume work on the prestigious project “Saka Chamkaur”, a theme park being built at Chamkaur Sahib near here. The park is being built in the memory of the elder Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh and other Sikhs who laid down their lives while fighting the Mughals in 1704. The work on the park had been lying suspended since 2008-09.

Punjab Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, who visited the site yesterday, said the work on the theme park would start on a war footing and the state government would spend Rs 12 crore on its first phase.

He said a boundary wall, a green room and an open air theatre would be built in the first phase. Under the second phase, the work of landscaping in the park would be undertaken.

The project would be executed by Markfed, said the Chief Secretary.

Chandigarh, May 22
A local court today sent Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jitender Kumar nabbed in a bribery case yesterday in judicial custody till May 30.

Posted in Kaithal with the Haryana police, Jitender Kumar was absconding in a corruption case and arrested yesterday by the Vigilance Cell of the UT police.

After spending a day in police remand, he was produced before the court following which he was sent in judicial custody.

The Vigilance Cell on May 14 had arrested ASI Jagdish Ram, posted in the Haryana Chief Minister's security, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in the Sector 10 parking lot. Later, it was revealed in the probe that Jagdish Ram had taken the bribe on behalf of ASI Jatinder Kumar, and the Inspector Raj Kumar, posted in Kaithal. They were demanding the bribe to favour complainant Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Mauli Jagran, Chandigarh, in a cheating case registered at the Siwan police station, Kaithal, in August 2012. The bribe was demanded to let him off in the case.

Sources informed that the arrest of Jitender Kumar gave important leads to the local vigilance team in the case, but his link with inspector Raj Kumar could not be established so far.

As per information, the vigilance is looking for more evidence to arrest Raj Kumar, who has already been booked in the case, but is yet to be arrested. The local vigilance team is expected to visit Kaithal soon to check the case file and carry out a probe in the matter. The call details of inspector Raj Kumar is also under scrutiny.

It is learnt, the deal was set for Rs 13 lakh. The complainant had already paid an amount of Rs 5 lakh as the first installment in April, which is still to be recovered.

Chandigarh, May 22
The local court today acquitted four but convicted four others with two years imprisonment, in a three-year-old physical assault and attempt to murder case.

The accused were originally booked under Section 307 of the IPC in an attempt to murder case and under Sections 323, 324 and 325 for assaulting complainant Balbir Singh in May 2010, here at the Mauli Complex.

In the judgement pronounced today, four accused - Dilshad, Shamshad Kili Devi and Vijay Kumar - were acquitted on all charges. While four other accused - Lakhan Kumar, Saleem, Chotta Lakhan and Nania - were acquitted on attempt to murder charges but the court held them guilty under Sections 323, 324 and 325 for assaulting the complainant and sent them to a prison for two years.

They were also fined Rs 2,500 each. Another accused in the case, Gabbar Singh, is a proclaimed offender and is yet to be arrested. — TNS

Chandigarh, May 22
Acting on a petition filed in public interest against the 'emergency' appointment of Panjab University

Vice-Chancellor Dr Arun Kumar Grover’s wife Dr Neera Grover as the professor of music, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the university Registrar to file an affidavit.

He has been asked to state the number of posts lying vacant in the university and the procedure to fill them.

Dr Neera Grover’s appointment on the post of vocal studies professor in Panjab University’s music department had come under judicial scanner after RTI activist Dr Rajinder Singla had filed a petition.

He alleged that the prescribed procedure for the recruitment was not followed by the university authorities while appointing Dr Grover. Seeking directions to quash her appointment and to fill the post through re-advertisement, Dr Singla claimed that the university invited applications, with November 1, 2010, as the last date.

After Grover’s notification as the VC in June 2012, the academic and administrative committee of the music department held a meeting on July 5, 2012. It recommended that the VC’s wife be offered an emergent appointment as professor against the vacant post.

Subsequently, on July 17, 2012, Neera Grover applied for the post with a request of condoning the delay of one year and eight months for submitting the application. The outgoing VC condoned the delay, despite the facts that some candidates had already been shortlisted.

Dr Neera Grover was selected and PU Syndicate in its meetings appointed her for a period of one year by invoking provisions for emergency appointments. Finally, she joined the department in December 2012.

“Where has that emergency disappeared if it really existed in July 2012? Why did PU prefer to appoint Dr Neera Grover and kept waiting till she joined, instead of appointing someone else who could be available to cope with the exigencies, if there were any?” questioned Dr Singla.

Chandigarh, May 22
The Chandigarh Police arrested a person for using pirated Adobe Photoshop’s software at Satyam Digital Lab in Sector 22, while in another case, a person was arrested for selling pirated CDs at a shop in Sector 38.

The police stated that Rahul, a resident of Sector 21-A, was using pirated software at his shop, following which he was arrested. A case under

Copy Right Act 1957 has been registered against the accused at the Sector 17 police station.

In the second incident, the police arrested Harjinder Singh, a resident of Sector 37-D from Satpal Traders in Sector 38, after pirated CDs were recovered from his possession.

A case under Copy Right Act 1957 and Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC has been registered against him at the Sector 39 police station.

Chandigarh, May 22
A woman working at Sky Traveller in Sector 34 -A, has been booked by the police under Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC for allegedly duping a client of Rs 3.5 lakh.

The police said, Dev Kumar, a resident of Govind Nagar, Nayagaon in Mohali district, alleged that he had paid Rs 3.5 lakh to the woman to send him abroad.

However, the women neither sent him abroad nor returned his money. He then informed the police and filed a complaint. The is investigation is on in the case.

Chandigarh, May 22
With 161 runs needed and five wickets still intact, Jalandhar are fancying their chances to register win over the hosts, Chandigarh, during their ongoing campaign for Dhruv Pandove Cricket Trophy for Boys (U-19) at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8.

The local side today failed to strengthen their second innings after starting from the overnight score of 17 runs for one wicket. The team was bowled out for 167 runs within 62.5 overs.

Shivam Bhambari (37) and Arpit Pannu (26) were the main scorers, who helped the team post a target of 231 runs for the visiting side. For the visitors, Rohit Chouhan claimed six wickets, giving away 58 runs, while Karan Bhargav claimed two victims for 65.

Chandigarh: St John's High School, Sector 26, and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 56, registered win in their respective ties during the Second Brother McCann Cricket Tournament that started today.

After electing to bat first, Vivek High School posted 127 runs against St John’s High School, propelled by Angad's 37 off 21. Vaibhav claimed three for 20. The winning side achieved the target with seven wickets in hand. Gurmanat Kang (49 off 29) was the main scorer.

In the second match, GMSSS-56 beat GMSSS-26 by eight wickets. Sarthak scored 60 off 29 to help chase the 102-run target. — TNS