Joginder is chairman of District Planning Committee, Fatehgarh Sahib
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, October 9
Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, accompanied by Bikram Singh Majithia, Minister, and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, general secretary, SAD (B) went to congratulate Joginder Pal Singla on the eve of his office taking ceremony here today.

Addressing the party workers, who had gathered in large number, Sukhbir Badal said Joginder has been appointed as the Chairman to give him due share of power as his family has served the people for decades. His late father, Nand Kumar Singla, remained president of the Municipal Council, Mandi Gobindgarh, for 25 years, which is a record and he has not seen any politician remaining president of any organisation for such a long time and he himself remained Treasurer of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee.

Sukhbir warned all those SAD (B) leaders and workers, who have opposed his appointment terming him as a defector from the Congress. He directed every leader and worker to extend support to Singla, so that development in the district may be intensified.

Notably, the appointment of Joginder as the Chairperson of the District Planning Committee, Fatehgarh Sahib, was criticised by Karnail Singh Panjoli SGPC member-cum-senior SAD (B) leader alleging that defector of the Congress has been preferred by ignoring the claim of Taksali SAD (B) leaders.

It is worth mentioning that Joginder Pal Singla joined SAD (B) on September 11, 2012 after leaving the Congress. To induct him into the party fold, Sukhbir Badal, party president had come to Mandi Gobindgarh town and address the rally organised by Singla.

Joginder’s father, Nand Kumar Lahoria, was a leading Congress leader of the area and he was made permanent treasurer of the party. Singla himself was the member of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee and president of Municipal Council Mandi Gobindgarh.

2 die, 10 hurt in accident
Parmod Mehta

Dera Bassi, October 9
Two persons were killed and 10 others were injured in a road accident near Lalru on Wednesday afternoon. The accident occurred when a three-wheeler carrying commuters was hit by a Haryana Roadways bus at the ITI roundabout at Lalru crossing. The injured were rushed to the GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh, and the Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi.

The deceased have been identified as 55-year-old Sarwan Singh, a resident of Bhagwasi, and 20-year-old Mukesh Kumar, a student of Swami Parmanand College.

Meanwhile, the injured were identified as Amarnath, 22, a resident of Mani Majra, Sanjay Kumar, 21, a resident of Sector 30, Chandigarh, Saurv, 22, a resident of Panchkula and Dheeraj, 21, a student of an engineering college and Venod Kumar, a resident of Mani Majra, Dheeraj, 22, a resident of Lalru and Vivek of Lalru.

The police said that a case has been registered against the bus driver who fled from the spot after the accident.

Cong to highlight corruption, says Preneet Kaur
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, October 9
Minister of State for External Affairs, Preneet Kaur, has criticised the SAD-BJP government for ‘spreading’ corruption at every level. She said the Congress would highlight the issue of corruption in paying stamp duty while getting land registered by a local MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary, NK Sharma.

She demanded a proper inquiry into the case by an independent agency like the CBI. A plan would be made to highlight the matter at state-level after consulting the state Congress president, Partap Singh Bajwa, she added.

Preneet was here to attend a private function at Lalru on Wednesday. She said the reality of claim of corruption-free administration was exposed with the revealing of not paying full stamp duty while registering the land.

Notably, Congress leader, Sukhpal Singh Khaira has levelled charges against NK Sharma while paying stamp duty to get land registered in his name in Zirakpur.

Expedite mediation proceedings, says HC
Makes it clear that it wants Admn and Chandigarh Golf Club to resolve the lease amount row
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9
The game of discord between the Chandigarh Golf Club and the UT Administration is in for an early end. The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Chandigarh Administration and the Chandigarh Golf Club to expedite the mediation proceedings in the row over the lease amount. Asking both the parties to conclude the mediation proceedings expeditiously, a Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, also fixed November 6 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

The High Court has appointed a former apex court judge, Justice Kuldip Singh, as a mediator to resolve the renewal of lease row between the Golf Club and the Chandigarh Administration.

The High Court has also made it clear that it wanted the Administration and the club to put their heads together for resolving the row. Seeking directions for setting aside the order/letter issued by the Administration on November 15 and 16 last year, the club had earlier contended that the same was totally illegal, arbitrary and discriminatory. The Administration, vide the letter, had asked the Club to deposit lease money from March 16, 2008, to March 15, 2013. The amount, as per the calculations, comes out to be Rs 9, 27, 48000.

Directions were also sought by the club to extend the lease of the petitioner society either in terms of draft lease proposed by the latter on December 2, 2009, or on terms similar to that of the Delhi Golf Club, both in terms of lease money as well as tenure.

The High Court had earlier directed the club to pay Rs 10 lakh, in addition to Rs 20 lakh already paid to the UT Administration. The Bench also fixed March 4 as the next date of hearing.

Appearing on the behalf of the Chandigarh Administration, senior advocate Girish Agnihotri had earlier told the Bench that the amount sought by the Administration was not exorbitant.

Elaborating, he said the club had around 3,800 members. Even if one member paid Rs 450 a month, they could easily pay the lease amount. “The club has a huge income from other sources, like it charges non-members Rs 1,000 per person/per day to play golf on its premises and various other charges for using the club’s gymnasium," he claimed.

Bribe case
IT officer’s mother gets bail

Five theft cases reported
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9
Five cases of theft were reported from across the city. In the first incident, Poonam a resident of Kharar reported her Activa Scooter (PB65-F-0682) was stolen from Sector 19-27 dividing road on October 1. In the second incident, Sanjeev Kumar of Kangra reported that his bag containing mobile phone, clothes and identity card was stolen from Sector 17 bus stand on October 8. In the third incident, Rakesh of Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, reported that his Pulsar motorcycle (CH-04L-0167) was stolen from the Industrial Area.

In the fourth incident, P Guna Sekaran of Sector 47D reported that his Indica car (CH-01-AC-4091) was stolen from the market of Sector 47C on September 29. In the fifth incident, Achint Kumar of Sector 23B reported that Rs 24,000 and gold ornaments were stolen from his house on October 8. Separate cases of theft were registered by the Chandigarh police under Sections 379 and 380 of IPC in all the incidents.

Chain snatching incident

Two unidentified occupants of a motorcycle sped away after snatching a gold chain of a woman. Divya P Nayyar of Sector 46-D reported that she was going back home after dropping her son at a school in Sector 46 on October 9. As she reached near the Community Center of Sector 47, a youngster came from back side and snatched her gold chain. She claimed the youngster ran away with another who was waiting with motorcycle to escape from the spot. She could not note down the number.

Inter school badminton championship
Rain plays spoilsport
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9
'Leaking roof' above court No 2 and 3 at the Indoor Stadium of Badminton Hall, Sector 42, Sports Complex, was a real challenge throughout the day for the players of the Inter School Badminton Championship.

Mild rains, earlier this morning, made some patches (of these two wooden indoor courts) wet and left the players to play under amidst risk of injury. Meanwhile, two players, one from Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 47, and Ryan International School received minor injuries after they landed on to the wet wooden patch.

Notably, the repair work to repair the ceiling of the stadium was performed few years ago but the situation hasn’t changed yet. Local junior and senior players, present on the spot, said the situation remains the same in every rain and that the players and the tournament organisers face problem every time. The Inter-School Badminton Championship for Boys and Girls is being conducted by the UT Education Department at the venue which is being looked after by the UT Sports Department. Both the departments fall under the UT Administration. It is worth mentioning here that the particular indoor stadium has more numbers of members, including both general and the VIP, in comparison to any other stadium or court. The court also generates good amount of revenue for the UT Sports Department in the form of membership fee.

Interestingly, the organisers after failing to find any sweeper, employed with the Sports Department, called their own employee from the Government Model High School, Sector 42. “It is the duty of the local sweeper. I am especially called for wiping these wet patches and have been doing this since morning. My work is to serve water to the team and to these officials not cleaning the patch every single minute.”

JPS Sidhu, Joint Director Sports, the UT Sports Department, said the repair work will be performed soon and new cover slabs will be laid down by the engineering wing. “A total of Rs 11 lakh have been sanctioned to prevent leakage form the ceiling. The problem will be looked after soon and the engineering department will take care of this,” said Sidhu. When asked about earlier repairs performed few years back, he said, “This time, it will be taken care of well.”

When contacted some players, participating in the competition, he added, “It’s very risky to play under these condition. If one slips on this wet area, he can easily receive an injury in ankle, knee or wrist. Majority of us denied playing on these courts. So, we are waiting for the court to be ready,” said a player of New Public School, Sector 18. The players, who received injury on his left wrist, added, “It impossible to play amidst wet courts. Although my injury is not that deep but it will trouble during my game,” said Dhruv.

City soccer team blank Oman
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9
Aiming for the bull’s eye, lads of the Chandigarh Football Academy (CFA) added another feather to their caps after defeating the international team of Oman, to enter the quarterfinals stage of the 54th edition of the Subroto Cup Football Tournament for Boys (U-17), being held in New Delhi. The team blanked their rivals from Oman, convincingly by 5-0 and won all the three matches of the league stage.

In today’s match, the city team started the proceedings at a low note to check the best of the rivals. The team tested Oman’s custodian more often in the span of first 10 minutes. In the 16th minute of the match, in-form half back, Mohabshir smartly collected a pass from Harpal and posted the first goal with his right foot placement in nets. The team started gaining momentum and doubled the joy, when Inderpal scored the second goal in the 27th minute. Towards the end of first 45 minutes, striker Jatiender a brace with a solo effort and sealed the first half at 3-0.

After the breather, left half back, Inderpal again marked his presence felt with when Oman’s custodian failed to get grip of a power pack left footer by Inder. He scored the fourth goal in the 52nd minute. Meanwhile, Oman’s striker managed to sneak into the CFA’s defense but active stopper back Salman deflected the attack. Later, in the last minutes, Harsharan Kabara of the CFA sealed the team’s win at 5-0.

Earlier, in their opening match, the team blanked Goa by 10-0. Half-back, Mohabshir and striker Jasbir contributed three goals each in the team’s effort while Harpal, Deepak and Ramdin scored a brace each. The Goa side towards the end of the game also conceded an own goal. While in their second match, the Chandigarh side posted a 5-0 victory over Bihar. Jatinder netted the first goal in the 10th minute of the match, Harpal double the lead and put the score ahead by 2-0 followed by another goal through a power pack free kick. After the breather, the team took full advantage of the opportunities and scored two more goals through half-back Mohabshir and Inderpal.