|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Prisoner slits wrist in court lock-up
Panchkula, October 31 The victim, Anil Maata, was arrested by the CBI in 2011 in a fraud case after he acted as a tout in providing fake licences to arm holders in Gurgaon and Faridabad. After the incident, Maata said, “Either convict me or set me free. I do not want to stay in jail. ” Maata reportedly picked up a blade from under a carpet on which he was sitting and committed the crime. He was rushed to General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, and after his condition became stable, he was again brought back to the court. Inspector Mukesh Kumar, Station House Officer of the Sector 5 police station, was called and Maata was booked in an attempt to suicide case. The victim is lodged in Ambala Jail for offenses under Sections 420, 455, 466, 12, 13,13A and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He had come for a regular hearing of a case in the CBI court. “Maata submitted an application in the court which stated that he would be committing suicide. Taking immediate action, the court had directed the Jail Superintendent to be vigilant and keep enquiring about him,” said advocate Manbir Singh Rathi. Just after his deposition, the police had taken Maata to the temporary jail at the ground floor in the district court itself where other prisoners were also sitting. There Maata had taken out a blade and slit his wrist. “The victim had made three cuts on the wrist, but they were not very deep. His condition is said to be stable,” said a doctor at the hospital. Maata hails from Dehradun and was also released on bail sometime ago. But after being released on bail, he did not appear for a court hearing, so the police was directed by the court to keep him in custody.
Court had told cops to keep watch on undertrial
The incident took place even after the court had cautioned the Jail Superintendent about the suicide letter which the prisoner had submitted in the court minutes before he had cut his wrist. Questions have been raised over the alertness of the police. Undertrial Anil Maata (left) at the Panchkula district courts on Thursday. a tribune photograph
|
|
Train passengers denied e-tickets against waiting seats
Chandigarh, October 31 The logic given by the e-Sampark centre officials for denying the tickets was that they did not want to inconvenience the passengers, as they would have to come again to cancel the tickets booked against waiting list. Soon after the UT Adviser, KK Sharma, was issued a symbolic ticket of Paschim Express from Chandigarh to Ambala Cantt, the officials turned away Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 7, who was the first person after
the adviser to seek a ticket to Patliputra (Patna) in Bihar, as the reservation system was showing waiting list status. He was asked to try his luck again tomorrow at the e-Sampark centre. While two other passengers, however, were lucky to get confirmed tickets of another train. While inaugurating the e-ticketing railway counters, Sharma stated that if the Administration got encouraging response, the services would be extended to other e-Sampark centres of the city too.
He enquired from the officials whether the credit-card facility was available for e-ticketing. Prerna Puri, UT Secretary, information technology, said that a number of resident welfare associations had demanded that the same facility be introduced in their respective e-Sampark centres also. After looking into the response, the proposals will be decided by the department, she said. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), Chief Regional Manager, RK Sondh, suggested that the UT Administration could also commence the services of booking (IRCTC) tourism packages from this centre to promote tourism in the region. The Department of Information Technology has enabled the service in collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), New Delhi. The facility of rail reservation will be available from noon onwards till 8pm from Monday to Saturday.
Confusion over refund clause
The UT Administration before launching the railway e-ticketing apparently forgot to address the clause of refund of the fare during cancellation of ticket. As per the clause of the Railways, the passenger has to be refunded the fare within two hours, but the e-Sampark centre, where the facility has been commenced, has working hours from 8 am to 8 pm and no current booking counter is available. Resultantly, the administration has decided not to issue waiting ticket to the residents. Reservation
facility
|
|
booth scam
Chandigarh, October 31 While talking to Chandigarh Tribune, PS Shergill, who is presently posted as the Managing Director (MD), Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (PUNSUP), says if Bansal is so honest and clean then why is he running away from the CBI investigation. It is only Bansal, who is not allowing officials of the UT Administration to conduct a fair probe in the scam. Till date, no probe by an independent agency like the CBI has been ordered, he added. Shergill’s report was based on facts and it was not a final report. He had also recommended further probe by an independent agency. Shergill further said that in March 2011, Bansal had said in Parliament that a CBI probe be conducted in the booth scam, but why till date neither Bansal nor the Administration had initiated the
probe in the scam? Today at a press conference and during the Chandigarh MC house meeting, Bansal while replying to the allegations of BJP councillors Arun Sood and Satinder Singh on booth scam, had stated that a UT official had included his name in the booth scam without any base with an intention to malign his image. Bansal had also said that if writing letters to recommend booths for poor people was a mistake, then he would continue to make such a mistake. He had also said that he had got the official from Chandigarh transferred who was harassing poor city residents. On the transfer issue, Shergill said that he had spent seven years in the UT Administration and all his reports were outstanding. It was he who had opted for his transfer and it is on record with the UT Administration.
Bansal’s comment on woman creates furore in House
While replying to BJP allegations on railgate, booth scam, and on the development of the city, MP Pawan Kumar Bansal’s out of context statement that ‘Pichle 15 saalon se usne kisi aur ki aurat ki taraf nahi dekha’ created ruckus in the MC house meeting on Thursday. BJP-SAD councillors objected to Bansal’s statement and sought Bansal’s reply on what did he want to say about women. Later the BJP-SAD councillors protested against Bansal’s statement and finally the House was adjourned.
|
|
My resignation was wrong: Bansal
Chandigarh, October 31 While addressing mediapersons, Bansal said that the CBI questioned him for six hours in connection with the railway bribery scam, only because Vijay Singla was his nephew. As there was no evidence against him, the CBI did not made him an accused in the case, he said. “BJP leaders are only spreading false rumors in the city. In the present scenario, even Hilter’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels would have been defeated by the BJP leaders. They don’t have any respect for law and they don’t even know what the role of the MC is. They came to the House meeting only to create ruckus,” said Bansal. The local MP said he was ready to reply to questions on the booth scam and the Railgate, but the BJP councillors were not ready listen. “The BJP only believes in levelling false allegations,” said Bansal. ‘BJP planned to defame me’ On his comment on a woman in the MC House meeting, Bansal said that during the previous General Elections, BJP leaders had prepared a woman to file a false case against him to defame him. A BJP leader, however, informed him in time. When Bansal was asked about this BJP leader and the woman, he did not give any answer, saying that he did not believe in levelling allegations.
|
|
|
Local MP finds it difficult to handle Cong councillors
Chandigarh, October 31 Today, when Bansal came to attend his first MC House meeting after the railways scam was unearthed, he told the Congress councillors not to interrupt the BJP councillors. He told them that he would later give a point-wise reply to all the allegations made by the BJP councillors. However, when BJP councillors Satinder Singh, Arun Sood and Davesh Moudgil started their arguments in the booth scam and Railgate, Congress councillors also stood up and countered the allegations. On a number of occasions, Bansal was seen telling the Congress councillors to sit, but they continued to ignore Bansal’s requests. On one occasion, Bansal had to stand up from his seat and walk towards councillor Pardeep Chhabra’s seat to ask him to sit. At another instance, Bansal kept calling out to the Mayor, addressing him as ‘Mayor Sahab’ a number of times, but Mayor Subhash Chawla, rather than listening to him, continued to argue with BJP councillor Arun Sood. Congress councillor Mukesh Bassi, however, said that Pawan Kumar Bansal was their leader and would remain their leader. “Bansal’s directions are final for all the Congress leaders in the city,” he said.
Highlights of the MC HOUSE MEETING
|
|
Two hurt in house collapse
Panchkula, October 31 Sangeeta, who lives in a rented accommodation in the nearby village, had come to see the repair work of her house that had developed cracks at Chadi Kotla. Her neighbour, Chaman Lal, was also present there. Soon, the house collapsed and the two were buried under the debris. Sangeeta’s husband, Rakesh, immediately raised the alarm. The villagers managed to rescue Sangeeta and Lal. They were then rushed to the hospital.The Panchkula Administration had asked the Chandi Kotla residents to vacate the area since it is a landslide and flash-flood prone area. During the monsoon, 50 houses had collapsed or developed cracks. The
condition of Sangeeta is said to be stable while Chaman Lal will have to undergo surgery. The Panchkula Administration had also sought the assistance of the geological experts following which the inhabitants were asked to shift to safer places. The PWD Department (B and R) and the Irrigation Department was also roped in to do the stabilisation work.
|
|
Coldest October 31 in 8 years
Chandigarh, October 31 As per the met report, the minimum temperature recorded today is 15.9 degree Celsius, which is two notches below the normal. In 2004, the lowest maximum temperature was recorded at 23.6 degree Celsius. In the past eight years, the temperature for the month of October has always ranged from 33 to 36 degree Celsius, but this time, statistics and the present situation has something else to state. In fact the city, ironically, also recorded the highest rainfall in the month of October, which was 3.9 mm above normal. As per the records of the met department, the city received 35.7 mm rainfall, which was 3.9 mm above the normal, and in the area near the airport, the rainfall recorded was 40.2 mm, 8.4 mm above the normal. There was no rainfall in the city in the year 2005 and 2011, and the highest rainfall reported in the past nine years was in the year 2008, 17.2 mm. Met department director Surinder Pal said no rainfall was expected during the weekend on Diwali. “There will be, however, western disturbances after November 4 and rainfall is expected to hit the city during that time,” said Pal. As per the forecast, their will be partly cloudy
sky with possibility of thunder showers with maximum temperature of 29 degree Celsius and minimum temperature of 15 degree Celsius.
Weather takes toll, flights delayed
Heavy rain in the morning, delayed two flights by an hour. Jet airway’s outbound Chandigarh-Delhi-Bangalore flight, which was scheduled at 8.10 am, took off at 9.25 am due to low visibility. Besides Spicejet’s Chandigarh-Delhi flight, scheduled at 8.35 am, left after 9.30 am.
|
|
Safeguard your legal rights, ask for a bill from shopkeepers
Furthermore, none of the shops had a display notice in front of their cash counter, asking the customers to take the bill before leaving with their goods. The problem is set to escalate, as sale of sweets and dry fruits will be at its peak in the next 48 hours due to the festival season ahead. The non-issuance of bills is not only leading to evasion of VAT, but also infringing the rights of consumers, under Consumer Protection Act and Food Security Act. “By not giving the bills the shopkeepers are violating the consumer protection law and causing loss to the state exchange. Consumers are virtually left with no legal rights against the defective goods if he does not possess the bill,” said a city-based advocate, Ajay Jagga Navdeep, a local businessman, said a shopkeeper in Sector 19 sold him goods without issuing any bill. “When I confronted for a bill, he told me that he did not charge any tax on goods sold and even offered some more discount,” said Navdeep. President of the Chandigarh Consumer Court Bar Association, Pankaj Chandgothia, said, “Taking a bill is important because it is the legal right of a consumer and ensures a sale of guaranteed and quality products to the consumers. If the product is found to be sub-standard, action can be initiated, provided the consumer has relevant sales invoice.” Neeraj Bajaj, president of Chandigarh Sweet Shop Association, said sweet industry is knows for its haphazard ways, but there are sweet shops which have improved their business and are issuing proper sale invoice to the consumer.
Keep your bill intact
Consumers lose their legal rights under the Consumer Protection Act as well as the Foods Safety and Security Act if they do not possess any bill against the sale proceeds. During the festival season, there are chances that goods may be adulterated since they are made in bulk. Proper invoice helps keep the pressure on the shopkeepers to maintain quality as well as the quantity of the goods and brings revenue to the state exchequer
|
|
3 quintal of khoya destroyed
Mohali, October 31 Ahead of the festival season, a team headed by Assistant Commissioner (General) Amarjit Bains conducted an inspection of shops preparing sweets and other items at various places. Bains said today that during the inspection of Sohan Dairy at Sohana, proper cleanliness had not been maintained on the premises. One and a half quintals of khoya, which was to be supplied to different shops, was destroyed. The team, which included two medical officers, Dr Iqbal Krishan and Dr Jagdish Singh Gill, also witnessed several loopholes at Katani Sweets, Phase III B-2, Sector 82. A quintal of bakery products was also destroyed. Bains said at another shop in Phase IX, Industrial Area, which was run by the Khatana sweets, Phase IX, unhygienic conditions prevailed. Items such as rasgullas and khoya were not properly covered. Officials then directed the workers to destroy a quintal of sweets. Meanwhile, the UT Health Department raided sweets and bakery shops at Burail and Kajheri and destroyed over two quintals of bakery products on Thursday. As per the officials, food items were exposed to dust and flies. Samples of sweets were also lifted from shops in Sector 30.
|
|
diwali bonanza
Chandigarh, October 31 The decision pertaining to retirement age has been taken in pursuance of the Punjab Government notification. The Punjab service rules are also applicable to Chandigarh. Welcoming the decision of the administration, Swaran Singh Kamboj, the UT Cadre Educational Employees Union, said the administration has done the right thing by accepting the long pending demands of the employees. Members of various unions had protested for the demands to be fulfilled on earlier occasions.
|
|
Centre told to create awareness on RTI in city
Chandigarh, October 31 The directions came on a petition filed by Hemant Goswami against the Union of India and other respondents, after an affidavit by the Home Secretary said awareness programmes were being undertaken. The Home Secretary had also stated that Central Public Information Officers too had been appointed under the provisions of the Act in all government departments of the UT, with the remaining aspects being left to the Central Government. Appearing in person, Goswami, however, submitted that Central Government alone had the power to make rules. Elaborating, he said that “appropriate Government” as per the Act was the Central Government. He contended that the Administrator could make rules pertaining to his office, but not in relation to the UT. Taking up the matter, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih asserted: “We are unable to accept the plea. There is no restriction that rules have to be made qua the office, while defining the competent authority, whether it be for the office of the Speaker, the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Justice of the High Court or the President or the Governor….” The Bench said that the Administrator was within his rights to make rules and if any illegality or impropriety was found in a particular rule, then challenge could always be laid as was done in the present case. Before parting with the case, the Bench added: “We must note with regret the inaction on the part of the department concerned of the Government of India to place on record its stand, despite sufficient time having elapsed…. It is stated that awareness programmes have been undertaken by the Central Government, but it appears that the same is more in generalisation rather than what has happened in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. We are not concerned, in principle, as to what steps are being taken, but as to what steps at the ground level have been taken by the Central Government qua the Union Territory of Chandigarh and that is the grievance of
the petitioner.” The Bench went on to direct the Central Government to take adequate steps for conducting awareness programmes
in Chandigarh.
|
|
Chaos prevails at RLA office
Chandigarh, October 31 While electricity played hide and seek, delaying the work, the applicants complained that the contractor affixing the registration plates had employed inadequate staff. From tomorrow, the RLA has announced that traffic police will be challaning the defaulters. Officials at the RLA said apart from affixing the HSRP on newly registered vehicles, the schedule of affixing the plates on old vehicles was being communicated to the vehicle owners through public notices. Starting in a reverse manner, the RLA plans to cover all the vehicles registered till 2009 over the next 12 months.
|
|
Dengue cases on the rise
Chandigarh, October 31 City-based hospitals are being flooded with patients. The worst hit among the three government hospitals is the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. Over 100 patients suffering from high fever are admitted at the hospital. These include patients from neighbouring cities as well. The patient inflow to the Emergency has almost doubled in a month.
|
|
LIMIT EXTENSION
Mohali, October 31 In their letter to the MMC, the committee has objected the decision on several grounds. The committee maintained that they had paid development and maintenance charges for five years to Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) to develop their sectors. “Now it is the responsibility of the GMADA to develop these sectors in all respects, including roads, pathways, sewerage system, health issues, sewerage treatment plant. They must develop it by themselves and not hand over the responsibility of these sectors to the MC,” stated the committee. Besides the committee stated that a significant number of allottees were yet to get the possession of their plots. Notably, the MMC had invited objections in this connection through a public notice, published on October 7. Today was the last date to submit any objections in this regard. Now the MMC authorities will take decision on the objection on its own and send its decision to the government. After that a notification will be issued in this regard. According to a senior official of the MMC, the decision in this regard would be taken after Diwali.
|
|
make a difference
Chandigarh, October 31 Priyamvada Chaudhary, a member of the NGO, said, on November 1 , weeklong celebrations will kick off, during which the members will be seen participating in various activities to reach out to and thanking the city residents. "The activities include a cleanliness drive at Sukhna Lake, Diwali celebrations with residents of an old-age home, free lifts to people waiting at bus stops, and thanking various people serving the society, including nurses, policemen and guards across the city,"
said Priyamvada.
|
re-evaluation system
Chandigarh, October 31 Presently, the re-evaluation forms of students used to go to the computer branch from where the particulars filled by the students in the re-evaluation forms used to be verified and then the forms were further sent to the conduct branch and then to the secrecy branch. This entire process used to take several days and if there were any discrepancy in the re-evaluation form then the students were intimated and asked to fulfill the discrepancy, which used to further consume more days, which resulted to delay in re-evaluation. PU Controller of Examination (COE) Parvinder Singh said the entire process used to consume at least three-weeks only after which the answer-sheets were sent for the re-evaluation however, after the introduction of intra-networking, the post re-evaluation process would be completed on the same day. “Any student applying for the re-evaluation will be getting the acknowledgment slip at the same time as the particulars of the students will be verified through computer branch at the same time and the form filled by the student will be further sent to the conduct branch,” the COE said. He said with the system being introduced the university’s re-evaluation branch would also have the data of the re-evaluation applications received everyday according to which the paper-setters of a particular subject will be roped-in immediately for the re-evaluation. “The entire system will also help in declaring the re-evaluation result on time,” he added.
|
||
|
PU to keep mess open on Diwali
Chandigarh, October 31 While the arrangement of food in the girls’ hostel is made at the boys’ hostel in the university forcing the boys to move out in search of food. Aman, a hosteller, said, “On Diwali not many dhabas are open in the nearby sectors neither
the department canteens are open which leads to inconvenience.” There are total eight boys’ hostels on PU campus and every year around 50 students stay back in each hostel. Dean Student Welfare (DSW) Navdeep Goyal said they were going to hold a meeting with the hostel wardens to take the decision on the mess issue. “We have planned that one of the mess should be kept open to provide food to the
students who wont be going away to their homes for Diwali celebrations,” he said. Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) president Chandan Rana welcoming the university’s decision said a large number of students hailing from far away places stay in hostels for Diwali, however, in the absence of any arrangement for food they
have to visit the nearby markets for food and shell huge amount. PU officials stated that soon the decision will be taken and notices would be put at the notice boards at all the hostels informing the students about the mess that will be open on the day of Diwali.
|
||
|
Anti-cracker campaign culminates
Chandigarh, October 31 Today’s celebration at the school commenced with an anti-cracker rally. Wife of UT Advisor to Administrator, Ninette Das Sharma, who was the chief guest, motivated the students to shun the use of crackers this Diwali. She said crackers pollutes environment adversely. The toxic substances used in the firecrackers release toxic gases that are harmful to the health of all living beings. On the occasion, a quiz based on Wildlife for the students was also organised. A rangoli making competition was also held in the school. The programme culminated with a pledge by the students to say no to crackers and promote a green Diwali.
|
||
|
91 students get placed
Mohali, October 31 Chairman of the RBGI Gurvinder Singh Bahra congratulated four students whom Data64 Cyber Solutions selected at a package of Rs 10 lakh per annum. Data64 Cyber Solutions selected 20 students from various campuses of RBGI. The company selected four students as digital forensic analysts, two computer security incident response professionals, two as digital evidence analysts at a package of Rs 10 lakh, 6.10 lakh and 3.15 lakh, respectively. Unisys selected 31 students at a package of Rs 2.64 lakh. Similarly, Wipro Technologies selected 40 students at packages ranging from Rs 2.75 lakh to Rs 3.25 lakh per annum.
— OC
|
||
|
Education fest organised
Chandigarh, October 31 To enrich the knowlege base of the students a consortium of around 15 career-educational institutes and centres of higher learning partnered with
the college. Simultaneously presentations, workshops, mock test, quizes, paint the face competition and lucky-dip prizes were held in the allotted rooms. Students participated in the plethora of aritistic presentations in the form of Eco-Friendly
Rangoli. — TNS
|
||
|
Chandigarh: Panjab University (PU) in collaboration with CSIR-IMTECH, Chandigarh and IISER-Mohali would host 79th Annual Meeting of Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc.) from November 8 to 10. IASc. is considered the leading academy amongst the three premier academies of science, promoting the progress and upholding the cause of science in pure and applied branches in the country. The National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Shivshankar Menon, will deliver a Public Lecture on ‘Science and Security’ on November 9. Current President of the Academy, Prof. Dipankar Chatterji, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore will deliver presidential address on November 8 at PU Auditorium. The programme would be hosted at PU campus, Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali on November 8, 9 and 10 respectively. About 300 renowned scientists from top institutes of the country, having achieved eminence in their scientific profession, will be attending the prestigious meeting and deliberate on various issues of Science and Technology. The three days Meeting will comprise six technical sessions, two symposia and two public lectures and one Business Meeting of Fellows of the Academy.
|
||
|
FROM SCHOOLS
Chandigarh: St Teresa Convent School celebrated the festival of light with great pomp and show on Wednesday. The Class I students made colorful diyas, while the Class II children designed candles, decorated these with different materials. Students of Classes III and IV made the traditional Toran for wishing a healthy and prosperous life to all. Classes VII and VIII made block paintings in different textures and designs. Cultural function
Mohali: Yadavindra Public School organised its annual Song, Rhyme and Dance Day on the school premises yesterday. Around 300 children staged a plethora of performances. The children, dressed in bright colours, entertained their grandparents, parents, siblings and teachers. Principal RP Devgan acknowledged the efforts put in by all the students and staff in making the function a success. He also advised parents to value their children’s talent.
Annual day function
Panchkula: Holy Child School, Panchkula today organised their Annual Day Function amidst much fanfare at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, Chandigarh. The entire function was a confluence of vibrant colours, jubilance, creativity and artistic talent of the students. The theatre club of the school was represented by its budding actors who presented a commendable satire in Hindi related to police stations in ‘Thana Express’. Green Diwali
With great enthusiasm and fervour, children decorated diyas, candles and made beautiful rangolis at Vijay Public Smart School, Sector 17. The senior classes made posters and wrote slogans to promote “Green
Diwali”. — TNS
|
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, October 31