Chandigarh, July 10
The Chandigarh Administration has finally prepared the draft master plan for Chandigarh, 2031. After the approval of UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil, the Administration has now invited objections from the public.

City residents can file objections within 30 days. The draft master plan takes care of maintaining the original character of the city and has appropriately incorporated follow-up actions needed in pursuance of the report of the Expert Heritage Committee on the preservation of heritage of Chandigarh accepted by the Government of India.

In the master plan, 17 vacant pockets have been identified on the periphery and land use for each pocket has been sensitively proposed to meet the future requirements for housing, institutions, commercial, social and physical infrastructure. Development plans for each village and notification of building bylaws to improve the quality of life of residents of villages and adjoining areas has also been recommended in the drat plan.

Chandigarh, July 10
High drama was witnessed at the Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Sector 26, when students locked the gates of the college to restrain members of the college management from moving out of the campus today.

The students also held a protest against the Panjab University’s Syndicate decision to deny the college management to conduct fresh admissions.

The students also held a meeting with the college management over the university’s decision today. Not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, they boycotted classes and locked the main gate of the college.

The admissions for the next session were supposed to begin from July 17. The PU Syndicate took action against the college after it failed to comply with the conditions imposed by the university’s inspection committee.

The college has 14 regular faculty members. The management was given a notice by the PU on October 27, 2012, to fulfil the minimum requirement of 37 regular teachers.

The college had recently advertised the vacant posts of teachers and had sent the report to the PU for consideration. The management had also written to the university that rules had been amended and the college was short of only 10 teachers.

The students have threatened to boycott classes and house tests till the college management resolves the issue with the university.

Secretary of the governing body of the college PK Mittal said the management was yet to receive a copy of the Syndicate’s decision.

The management had urged the UT Administration to take over the college. However, the request was turned down.

Mittal said the college management would again approach the UT Administration urging it to take over the college or provide grant-in-aid.

Chandigarh, July 10
A local court today dismissed Punjab DSP Raka Gira’s application seeking discharge from a case under the Arms Act registered against her in 2011.

The Court of Civil Judge (junior division) Sukhda Pritam today disposed of her application while rejecting the claims of the DSP that no such case was made out against her.

The Chandigarh Police had booked Gira under the Arms Act in July 2011 after a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from her residence during a CBI raid.

The CBI had arrested Gira while accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a builder for settling a case against him. The CBI raided the palatial residence of the DSP in Sector 15 and recovered weapons and Rs 1.2 crore.

A .32 bore Germany-made revolver and a double barrel gun were found from her residence, besides 1,237 cartridges, including 831 of .12 bore, 114 of .38 bore, 114 of SLR and two cartridges of sniper live, were also recovered. The UT police had then registered a separate case under the Arms Act against her as she did not have a licence to keep the weapons. The ammunition was kept in two iron boxes in the storeroom of her residence.

In her application, Raka Gira pleaded that she was ignorant of such a huge haul of arms kept at her residence. She said the arms belonged to her father-in-law, who was a retired Punjab IGP. She also claimed that the weapons and cartridges were rusted and old.

The court, however, rejected her application seeking discharge from the case. The case has now been adjourned to August 22 for the next hearing.

The bribe case registered against her is being heard separately in the CBI court. Earlier this year, the CBI court had rejected another application filed by Gira seeking discharge from the corruption case.

Mohali, July 10
The personnel of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau flying squad-I arrested an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police allegedly while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a businessman at Mohali today.

The accused, identified as Kanwar Jaswinder Pal Singh, posted at the Phase 1 police station, was accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant, Rajinder Singh, a property consultant and a resident of Phase II, Mohali, when the vigilance team nabbed him at the PTL traffic lights.

The accused had allegedly threatened the complainant to implicate him in a false case if he fails to give Rs 10,000 to the police per month.

Following threats, Rajinder Singh approached the vigilance office at Phase VIII and filed a complaint against the accused.

“A trap was laid today to nab the accused red-handed,” said an official of the Vigilance Bureau.

A case under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the ASI at the vigilance police station.

Chandgarh, July 10
A 21-year-old Jammu and Kashmir resident was duped of Rs 2 lakh by an unknown person in the city on the pretext of giving him an appointment letter of a job in the armed forces.

The police received a complaint from Sohan Lal of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that one Pranav Chaudhary fled after taking Rs 2 lakh from him at the Mani Majra Civil Hospital on July 9.

The complainant said he got a call claiming that he had cleared the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) exam and his medical was to be conducted in Chandigarh. The caller asked Sohan Lal to rush to Chandigarh with Rs 2 lakh to take his appointment letter. He reached the city on July 9 at the civil hospital. He met a person, claming himself to be Pranav Chaudhary, who asked him for the money. He also told Sohan Lal that his medical would be conducted.

Involved in 30 vehicle thefts

Sources said that the accused were also involved in vehicle theft. They have admitted to 30 vehicle thefts in Panchkula. “We have come to know that immediately after stealing a car, they would sell its parts in the scrap market,” said an official.

Chandigarh, July 10
Policemen working for more than eight hours at a stretch have a reason to cheer. A mobile canteen will provide them the much-needed refreshment round-the-clock.

The canteen will be launched on Thursday. The concept, initiated by UT Inspector General of Police RP Upadhyaya, has been introduced for the first time in the northern part of the country. The canteen has been purchased at a cost of Rs 18 lakh.

The mobile canteen comes equipped with two large inbuilt freezers, a hot case, cylinder, burners and a microwave. Police personnel on duty during VVIP visits and rallies where they are stuck at a position for hours will benefit from the canteen, said a senior police officer.

The mobile canteen will provide hygienic food, cold water during summers and tea and lassi to police personnel. There is also a proposal to introduce biscuits and chips on the mobile canteen.

Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP), Police Lines, Suman Kumar said the idea was a part of the welfare scheme of the police. “It is meant for those police personnel who are stuck at a point owing to the call of duty during a VIP visit or a rally. The police personnel will no longer have to suffer due to hunger or thirst and their output will be better if they are taken care off,” said Suman Kumar.

Panchkula, July 10
It was a harrowing day for commuters as a pipeline crossing the Chandigarh-Kalka highway near MDC T-point got ruptured, leading to traffic snarls till evening.

Being the main route from Panchkula to Chandigarh, the situation remained chaotic, especially during the office hours.

As one side of the road was blocked, traffic was made after the same was diverted through other roads by the local authorities. Traffic from the Chandimandir side was diverted towards Sector 7.

“Due to the traffic jam, vehicles were moving at a snail’s pace. It being the office hour, there were hundreds of vehicles on the road linking Chandigarh and Panchkula. I got late for the office by around half an hour,” said Ashok Gupta, one of the commuters.

Commuters coming from Kalka and Shimla also had to wait for long. Sunita Dua, another commuter, said, “Already the traffic on this highway is very heavy on the normal days, so one can imagine the scenario when one side of the road gets blocked.”

A brawl also took place when two cars banged into each other. It was after the intervention of police that the car owners were calmed down.

The supervisor from the UT Engineering Department, Ravinder, said, “The pipeline originating from Sector 39, Chandigarh, supplies water to the Command Hospital. Due to some technical problem, it got ruptured and our men are repairing it since 1 am.”

Chandigarh July 10
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) today disposed of the petition filed by 11 women constables alleging they were not being sent for training course.

The case was disposed of following assurance from the UT police that the 11 UT police women constables who had sought directions for sending them for lower school training course at Madhuban, would be a priority.

The 11 UT police women constables had moved CAT seeking directions to the UT Administration and police authorities to send them for lower school training course at Madhuban. The women constables had alleged that despite directions from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), the police authorities had ignored them while fianalising candidates for the training.

In the order dated July 31, 2012, a Division Bench of the CAT had ordered that the constables be sent on lower school training course to Madhuban. But as these orders were not complied with, the constables filed a contempt petition which later was turned into execution petition by the tribunal.

The contempt petition states that the vide order dated April 5 this year, the Police Department had deputed 313 constables to undergo lower school course at Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban, but the women constables were not sent despite the Tribunal orders. As many as 12 vacancies are available for that purpose but still they were not sent, the petitioners stated.

Chandigarh, July 10
UT Adviser KK Sharma on Tuesday assured a delegation of Congress leaders that the new building bylaws for villages would be applicable on the new buildings and not the old ones.

At the meeting KK Sharma, Finance Secretary VK Singh, MC Commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh and the Congress leaders, including Pawan Sharma, Mukesh Bassi, Bhupinder Badheri, Devinder Babla and Vijay Rana were present.

The Adviser also directed the officials to consider the demands of villagers before finalising the building bylaws.

Besides, Local Member of Parliament (MP) Pawan Kumar Bansal also sent a letter to the UT Adviser and submitted his objections against the draft of the building bylaws.

Pawan Sharma while addressing mediapersons said that the Administration had also agreed to make liberal byelaws for one marla to 10 marla houses and small houses already built in villages and no further notice would be given to the owners of the houses that had already been constructed outside the village lal dora. Bhupinder Badheri said that the Administration had also agreed to build model villages in Chandigarh on the Delhi pattern and the Administration would do so from Baheri village. Devinder Babla said that the Administration was also ready to include villages that were presently under the UT and the Municipal Corporation on the demand of the villagers. Congress leader Vijay Rana said the officials also said that they would consider the demands of guesthouse owners.

Chandigarh, July 10
During monsoons one can contract all forms of viral infections, so experts advise that residents must be watchful of their food regimen and avoid falling sick. The infections can fast take the form of malaria or other severe vector-borne diseases, said the experts.

The key reason for the increased infections during the monsoons is the change in temperature and exposure of food to humidity, which leads to breeding of fungi.

Soar throat, fever and common influenza are the three most common infections the city hospitals have to deal with during the rainy season.

“Patients have been pouring in with seasonal infections accounting to nearly 30 per cent of the cases reported in the OPDs per day. People are advised to take warm fluids to protect themselves from infections,” said Dr Gopal Bhardwaj, head, department of internal medicine at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16.

The season welcomes all kinds of viral as well as skin-related problems too. To safeguard one self against the infections, people should avoid food that is susceptible to develop fungal growth.

Another reason why one can contract viral infections during this time is the exposure of raw vegetables or fruits to the muddy water. One must avoid eating out, the experts added. One should also avoid eating fried food during this season, as it can aggravate infections. The feet and hands should always be taken care of and kept clean as they are the main source infection say the doctors.

Chandigarh, July 10
The Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society organized an awareness programme on HIV/AIDS at DT Mall, IT Park, on Wednesday.

Zirakpur, July 10
In an endeavour to sensitise women to take care of their health at every stage of their life, ‘Woman Health Week’ is being organised at Trinity Education and Research Foundation, a charity wing of Trinity Hospital, here.

The event was inaugurated by Babita Sharma, wife of Punjab chief parliamentary secretary NK Sharma and Punjabi folk singer Dolly Guleria.

“During the week, various women-health related activities such as preventive health check-ups, ante-natal consultation for expecting mothers and BMD tests would be done free of cost”, said Dr Mohinder Kaushal, director of the hospital.

Today, Dr Kamla Kaushal, medical superintendent of the hospital, gave a detailed account of women health problems and counselled them. She said that they sould go in for regular check-ups. A breathing and meditation session to enhance the life condition was also taken by Art of Living Teacher Komal Singhvi.

A low-resolution camera installed at a gate in Panjab University. A file photograph

Chandigarh, July 10
Although the Panjab University authorities claim of having taken several measures to ensure peace on the campus, they have failed to install high-resolution closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, supposed to be installed around two years back.

Against the demand of 75 cameras, PU decided to purchase 45, for which a tender was floated. Nothing has happened since then.

The proposal to install high-resolution cameras was mooted before the Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) elections in 2011. The proposal, however, got delayed and cameras could not be installed.

The university authorities then claimed that the cameras would be installed before the student elections in 2012; however, once again they failed in this endeavour.

The PU authorities finally pulled-up their socks earlier this year, and after finalising the specifications of the cameras, invited bids. However, like the previous years, the university once again has not installed the cameras despite the student elections round the corner.

The decision to install the cameras was taken to keep a close vigil on the strategic locations on the campus, including the two UIET blocks in Sector 25, Student Centre, vicinity of girls’ hostels, and all the three PU gates. The existing cameras, which numbered around 70, were of a low resolution and failed to capture clear images.

Tankeshwar Kumar, director of the computer centre who was a member of the purchase committee, said the university did not receive enough number of bids, due to which cameras could not installed.

Officials said if the university wanted to install the high-resolution cameras, a fresh tender had to be floated.

Chandigarh, July 10
The first counselling for admission to the BCom course in the city colleges and the evening department at Panjab University will begin tomorrow.

Officials said counselling would be conducted from July 11 to 15 at the law auditorium. On the first day, applicants from the non-UT pool (general as well reserved categories) will be entertained. Physical presence of applicants is must for admission.

“Students have been advised to bring around Rs 16,000 to be deposited at the time of admission. No extra time will be given for the submission of fee,” officials said.

For the general category candidates of the UT pool, counselling will be conducted from July 12 to 14. For the scheduled caste (SC) category of the UT pool, counselling will be conducted after 2 pm on July 14. For all the other reserved categories of the UT pool and the department of evening studies, counselling will be conducted on July 15.

Candidates must bring original documents and certificates of Class XII, Class X (proof of date of birth), claim for the reserved category, character certificate from the institute last attended and one set of self-attested photocopy of the documents. In case of any gap year or single girl child, an affidavit attested by a Class-I Magistrate has to be submitted too.

Changing the preference of college will be allowed in the second counselling session only. Seats falling vacant on account of de-reservation of seats will be filled only in the second counselling. The dates for the same would be notified on the PU website later.

Chandigarh, July 10
Over 100 government teachers, who gathered at Masjid Ground in Sector 20 today, opposed the latest proposal of the UT Education Department to extend the school timings by an hour and a half under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act.

Teachers said if the department pushed for its implementation, they would hold protests. It is learnt that the department tried to implement this decision in April this year, but it had to postpone the move due to a strong opposition from teachers.

In the recent letter to schools, however, the department again made an attempt to extend the timings of teachers from 2 pm to 3.30 pm, in order to improve the quality of education in schools.

Swarn Singh Kamboj, president, UT Cadre Teachers’ Welfare Association, said the move was uncalled for when several other vital provisions of the RTE Act, such as student-teacher ratio and adequate infrastructure, have not implemented in government schools. He said many states, including Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab, had not implemented the provision of extending the timings.

Chandigarh, July 10
Central Administrative Tribunal has accepted the plea to allow promotion of non-faculty staff on completion of eight years with effect from January 1, 1985, by invalidating the cut-off date defined the PGI administration while implementing the first backlog promotion scheme notified in 1987.

It has been further ordered to continue the promotion scheme for Group B, C and D non-faculty staff as existing for faculty and Group A non-faculty staff.

The PGI Administration had discontinued the patient care allowance to senior employees on their promotion after the year 1998, which resulted in reduction of total emoluments on promotion.

The tribunal has invalidated the orders of PGI of discontinuing the patient care allowance to Group B employees, which has been increased to Rs 1,400 per month with effect from September 1, 2008, and Rs 1,750 with effect from January 1, 2011.

CAT has further ordered to implement the second cadre review anomaly report submitted in 2005, and the revised pay scale to junior technicians with effect from January 1996.

Chandigarh, July 10
The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union (PCCTU) is planning to launch an agitation against the failure of the UT Education Department to fulfil their demands.

Kuldip Singh, general secretary, PCCTU, said the union had tried to approach the Director, Higher Education, many times but failed to meet her.

"The Education Department has taken no action on our demands for several years. The next pay commission will be constituted in 2016, but professors of aided colleges are struggling for the past seven years to get any benefit as per the current Punjab government notification," Dr Singh said.

Dr Iqbal Preet Kaur, president, DAV College Teachers' Union, and convener, PCCTU, said the promotions under CAS had not been granted since the past three years.

"Hundreds of teachers are waiting for their promotions to Academic Grade Pay (AGP) of Rs 7,000, AGP of Rs 8,000 in Pay Band 3 and AGP of Rs 9,000 in Pay Band 4. A letter from the Deputy Director (DPI), Punjab, clarifies that in case of any change in the criteria for promotions, the UT shall be informed. Till now, no letter has been received by the Education Department from the DPI (Colleges)," she said.

Dr Iqbal Preet said they had submitted a few promotion orders (of June 2013) given by the Punjab Education Department to the DHE but to no avail.

"An agitation will be launched so that demands of the teachers are addressed," she said.

Renu Bedi, general secretary, Teachers' Union of MCM DAV College, said in-service teachers had not been granted any advance increments for acquiring PhD or MPhil degrees, and the back service benefits were also being denied to aided college teachers.

Chandigarh, July 10
On the occasion of World Population Day, 15 students from Dikshant International School, Zirakpur, staged a street play, “Aabadi Ki Barbaadi”, at Sector 17 today.

The street play emphasised on how the growing population affects the availability of resources, and which if left unchecked leads to disasters such as the recent floods in Uttarakhand.

It condemned the role of political leaders who visited the flood-ravaged state with their own personal agendas and made a mockery of the whole situation.

The main highlight of the play was the menace of overpopulation. The audiences were enlightened on the various methods of family planning through witty acts and songs. The script was based on the improvisation method adopted by the students under their teachers’ guidance.

School head Mitul Dikshit said the play was the result of a week-long theatre workshop that helped students to work on their thinking skills, observation, and imagination.