Chandigarh, January 21
Three days after a 17-year-old boy was kidnapped in a white Swift car, the special investigating team (SIT) formed to crack the case, recovered the teenager and arrested three of the accused.

The police said a total of seven persons were involved in the kidnapping and efforts were on to arrest the remaining four.

A kidnapping case was registered on January 18 on the complaint of Monica, a Sector 38-C resident, who reported that her brother had been kidnapped by three persons owing to an ongoing dispute.

The dispute

Monica stated that she had earlier been working with Global Link Study Emigration, Sector-9-D, but the office had closed down, now.

She said when the company was functional, some passports were sent to an agent and they were not returned. On January 17, Ramnish, Harvinder and Sukhwinder, residents of Amritsar, came to her residence. The three had been working with her in the office. The three demanded the passport of one Onkar. Monica told the three that it would take some time to get the passport. She alleged they got infuriated and threatened her of dire consequences. The next day, when she was out of the city, her maid called to inform her that her brother Karan was kidnapped by the three, who had visited her house on Friday evening.

Kidnapping and police action

Karan was pushed into a white Swift car PB-65-0220 and taken away. Monica got a ransom call of Rs 25 lakh from the mobile of her brother. On tracking the location, the mobile was found to be in the area of Ambala district. A police team was dispatched towards Ambala to find the exact location. But the kidnappers kept on changing their location to confuse the police. The video footage of the CCTV cameras installed at the Dappar Toll Tax Barrier was examined and two cars bearing PB-02-BV-6045 white colored I-20 and PB-02-BR-0202 white Swift had crossed.

The vehicles were found to be registered in the name of Sukhwinder Singh and Prabhjot Singh, both residents of Amritsar. Meanwhile, the negotiations between the kidnapper and Monica ended at Rs 13 lakh.

As a part of the deal, it was also finalised that an Etios car of the complainant would be transferred in the name of the kidnappers. The kidnappers finally demanded Rs 2 lakh cash, 10 kg silver and five blank signed cheques each from the complainant and her uncle. The stuff was handed over to the kidnappers in Amritsar. Two cars went to hand over the demanded ransom and in the other car the police followed. The stuff was handed over and one kidnapper managed to flee with Rs 2 lakh.

In light of the said development, a police party was sent to Amritsar to keep surveillance. Since, the location of the kidnappers was coming in the area of Ambala, so another police party was dispatched there.

Police breakthrough

Monica handed over the demanded items to the kidnappers at Amritsar. Meanwhile, the SIT with the help of technical surveillance found the location of the kidnappers on the Ambala-Pehowa road. The police initially confirmed the presence of Karan with the kidnappers and after chasing them, the police rescued the boy.

At the spot, the police arrested Sukhwinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh. On having rescued the victim, the police party of Ambala contacted the police at Amritsar and updated them about the said happenings.

On getting the information, the police party of Amritsar also nabbed Prabhjot Singh immediately and recovered all the items for his possession. One country made pistol and five live cartridges were also recovered from the accused. Four mobile phones were used by the accused during the crime.

Chandigarh, January 21
The UT police today filed a chargesheet against five persons in the accident case involving an Audi and a Tavera that left three dead last year. The police filed a chargesheet in the court of CJM Rajnish Kumar against the five accused for rash driving, causing death due to negligence, destruction of evidence and harbouring accused under Sections 279, 304 A, 201 and 212 of the IPC.

The chargesheet has been filed against the owner of the Audi car, Rajat Kapoor, his brother-in-law Trivikram Singh, friends Gurpreet Singh, Harsimranjit Singh and Prabhjit Singh.

The police have filed a 381- page chargesheet and have attached the CFSL report along with it.

While Rajat was booked for driving the Audi car when the mishap occurred, his accomplices were booked for removing beer bottles from the car and for helping Rajat flee from the accident spot.

The accident occurred on July 23, 2013, when four students from Ghaziabad were returning from Dharampur in a taxi (Tavera) and had to catch a bus to Delhi. The accident took place on the road separating Sectors 18 and 17 when the speeding Audi car coming from the opposite direction on the other side of the road and rammed into the Tavera after hitting the road divider. Rajat fled from the spot and later came with his driver, Sukhpal, to Sector 17 police station to make him surrender. He claimed that Sukhpal was driving the vehicle.

The driver of the Travera car identified as Hast Bahadur(34), a Dharampur resident, along with two students occupying the rear seats identified as Sahil Juneja (22) and Kuldeep Singh(19), both residents of Ghaziabad, had died on the spot. While Sahil was pursuing his BBA from a college in Ghaziabad, Kuldeep was a BTech second year student.

The other two injured students were identified as Suresh Rastogi sitting on the front seat and Raunak Singh, sitting on extreme left rear seat, who had a narrow escape with minor injuries.

So great was the impact that the front and the right portion of the Travera car was completely damaged and the bumper of the Audi car was found stuck in its roof suggesting that the Audi car was at a high speed and landed on the other side of the road crushing the occupants of the Travera car. 

Panchkula, January 21
The Income Tax Department today sealed nearly 50 bank accounts of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and recovered Rs 130 crore after the latter failed to pay income tax of Rs 448 crore pertaining to the assessment year 2011-2012.

A day-long operation led by the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Manveet Sehgal, was carried out at various banks in the city where HUDA had its accounts. The process will continue tomorrow as HUDA has nearly 100 bank accounts.

The income tax officials swung into action after HUDA failed to pay the tax. The accounts were sealed on the directions of Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Shalini Bhargav Kaushal. HUDA draws huge income from the sale of residential plots, commercial and industrial plots in the district.

It also draws interests from thousands of crores kept in the banks. “After scrutiny of all the transactions, HUDA was told to pay Rs 448 crore as tax.

Financial representatives of HUDA also deposed before our higher authorities and gave non-satisfactory replies. They said at present, they did not have the money to pay the tax,” said a senior official of the Income Tax Department.

Notices have also been sent to the private and public sector banks where HUDA has its accounts. Once the bank accounts are sealed, all financial transactions of HUDA will be affected.

Chandigarh, January 21
Coming down heavily on the menace of adulteration in sweets, the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajnish Kumar Sharma today sentenced the owner of a sweet shop to one-year rigorous imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on him.

The court today convicted Mohammad Basir, owner of a sweet shop in Burail, Sector 45, under various sections of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. The sweet sample taken during an inspection revealed that the coating was a synthetic basic colour of pink shade hazardous to health.

While sentencing the accused, the court stated that the menace of misbranding and adulteration was on the rise in society. “The businessman of the day are endeavouring to become rich overnight by easy ways and means to earn money, even at the cost of health of the public,” said the court in the order. “It is proved that the accused sold adulterated cum-chum sweet.” The court added.

The incident was reported on October 5, 2007, when the Health Department of the Chandigarh Administration had conducted raids at various sweet shops in the city. On inspecting a tray of sweets coated with silver for public sale, the health officials had taken a sample and sent it for testing.

A report of the Public Analyst, Punjab, revealed that the sample contained a non-permitted synthetic basic colour of pink shade. Charges were framed in 2008 and the court today pronounced the order stating that the sample was adulterated .

Mohali, January 21
High drama was witnessed at Dara Studio, when the family which has booked it for a marriage function, were shocked to know that the function could not be held as it had been sealed by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA).

Notably, GMADA had sealed three marriage palaces including Dara Studio, Libra Gardens and Celebrations yesterday for being run illegally on the industrial sites.

Today, a family of Dhanas had a booking for main hall of Dara Studio for their daughter’s marriage. The family claimed that they had also made an advance payment to them in this connection.

The shocked family created ruckus when they were told that the function could not be held due to sealing of the marriage hall. The family and their relatives were up in arms as the “baraat” was about to come.

The management of Dara Studio showed their helplessness in opening the main hall due to sealing, the bride’s family was convinced to hold the function in the lawn.

“It was very difficult for the bride’s family to shift the venue of function at the eleventh hour. The matter was resolved when both the parties agreed to hold the function in the lawn,” said the police. Similarly, Libra Garden too had held a marriage function on its lawns for the same reasons.

“What is our fault if these palaces were being run illegally? Why should we suffer,” asked a relative.

Meanwhile, GMADA officials maintained that they were not aware about today’s functions held at these marriage palaces. “They could not hold any function there. We would take further action in this regard and now seal their main entrances,” said Sukhpal Singh, SDO of GMADA. 

Chandigarh, January 21
Showing solidarity with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s protest, local members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a silent protest in Sector 17 plaza here today.

Protesters carried banners with messages like ’Shinde, Shame Shame”, “Honesty honors, corruption dishonors” etc.

An AAP volunteer, Gurjusjit Singh, said they gathered at the plaza to show solidarity with the party’s government in Delhi, which is protesting against the Centre in general and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in particular.

The protesting AAP members regretted that the Home Minister had suspended 12 security guards in case of a broken windowpane at his home but was not taking action against the allegedly corrupt police officials.

The party members took out a silent procession in Sector 17. They protest ended at 2 pm. AAP members Dr TC Goyal, HK Arora and Joginder Deshawar took part in the protest.

The protest by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is absolutely unjustified. You are now a CM and should behave like one. He is trying to divert the attention of the common man to gain political mileage. Being a responsible person, he should avoid such demeanours.
— BB Behl, congress city chief

It seems that the Delhi CM only knows how to protest and has no knowledge about governance. With the support of the Congress, he became the CM but he is not been able to run the government. The AAP's government was formed as they were protesting for rights of public. Now, they are at the helm of affairs and should start resolving the problems being faced by the common man.
— Sanjay Tandon, BJP city president

Arvind Kejriwal should come out of the protesting mode. He is now a part of the government. Instead of holding dharnas, he should resolve the problems of residents by delivering good governance.
— Mukesh BAssi, Congress councillor

The Delhi CM's protest is not justified. Being the CM, he should take constitutional and legal route to find solutions to problems. If you are protesting on streets the way you had been doing before becoming the Chief Minister, there is no difference between being in and out of power.
— Satya pal jain, former MP and national in-charge of BJP's Legal and Legislative Cell

The protest by Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi is only a drama. In fact, he has not been able to fulfil the promises he made before Delhi elections. Therefore, he is trying to misguide people by holding a fake protest.
— Maninder Dhillon, Youth Cong president

The demand raised by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to bring the Delhi police under the control of the state government is justified. If a CM has no control over the police, how can you expect better law and order situation in his state. His mode of protest is also justified as there was no other way to raise voice before the Congress-led Central Government.
— Harmohan Dhawan, former union minister and senior BJP leader

It is wrong on the part of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to take to streets to register a protest. There are many other important issues plaguing the country but he is protesting only for suspension of four Delhi police officers. He should maintain the dignity of the CM's post.
— Jannat Jahan ul Haq, BSP councillor & Lok Sabha candidate

I feel that CM Arvind Kejriwal has done nothing wrong by coming out on streets to protest for his demand. It is the central government that has forced him to do so. It is only after the Centre failed to consider his demand that the CM came out on streets to hold protest.
— Brij Mohan Mayor, Sector 23 resident

Being the CM, Arvind Kejriwal should not have taken to streets to vent his frustration. People elected a new face like him to the CM's post as they wanted to see a big change. Kejriwal should now play a strong politician and not a hapless ordinary citizen of the state.
— Anubha Sharma, teacher

When a CM's demand is turned down by the Centre, he is left with no other option but to lodge a protest. There is nothing wrong in what Kejriwal is doing. In fact, his move will set a precedent.
— Ishan tayal, trader

We all want the police to work effectively and efficiently. And it is a fact that functioning of the police has to be changed. A CM sitting on the street clearly depicts that he does not have enough support and machinery to do what he wants to. It is sad that even a CM in our country has to stage a sit-in in favour of the 'aam aadmi'. Situation in Delhi is disappointing and the CM should be given all the powers he need. His act is certainly justified.
— Aman bindra, Panchkula resident

It is for the first time that a chief minister is running the entire state from a road; just for the sake of Delhi residents. I really appreciate his concern for issues of public concern and his action of taking to streets to fight for people's cause is justified.
— Dr meenakshi chadha, Mohali resident

The issue raised by Kejriwal is very relevant. But he should have some patience so that the could be taken to its logical conclusion. System cannot be changed in a day but he can be dethroned.
— Mandeep Kaur, teacher

I appreciate the Delhi CM for raising important issues and showing commitment towards resolving them. It is for the first time in our country that an authority has raised such an issue and as a citizen, I would trust him more than any of his predecessors. But I am disappointed with the medium he chose to send across his message. Being the CM, his acts have to be dignified.
— Ravindra Verma, IT professional

I am totally convinced with Kejriwal's move. In order to make oneself heard on an issue which is unacceptable to a majority of those in power, demonstration is the only resort. Kejriwal's action shows that though he is the CM, he feels like a common man.
— Rupinder Kaur kang, Mohali resident

Chandigarh, January 21
Defying the common hypothesis that Osteoporosis (breaking of tissues in bone and making them fragile) and Osteopenia (low bone density), are found commonly in urban women, due to deficiency of Vitamin D (less exposure to sunlight), during a screening of 4,054 rural women in and around Chandigarh, experts of the Asha Jyoti project found nearly 30% of them suffer from osteopenia and 16% from osteoporosis.

“It was found that nutritional factors were responsible for the results. We screened these women over past one and a half years and a majority of these were rural,” said Dr NK Khandelwal, head, Department of Radiodiagnosis, PGIMER.

Asha Jyoti, a mobile health outreach programme for women, is a population based screening program, targeting breast cancer and cervical cancer in women and screening for osteoporosis in a single visit.

This program is being run in collaboration with RAD-AID International, a US-based non-profit organisation and Philips healthcare. Under the programme women from Burail village and Sector 45 are screened Polyclinic, Sector 45.

The van had also started visiting in Sector 38. The Van is equipped with digital mammography for breast cancer screening and video colposcopy of cervical cancer screening and DEXA scan for osteoporosis. Asha Jyoti van was recently awarded as “Champion of Action” by Clinton Global Association in 2013. Minister of Health of Netherlands will take note of the project on 30th January, at the Embassy of Netherlands, to see how the model can be adopted in their country.

Chandigarh, January 21
The Federation of Sector Welfare Associations Chandigarh (FOSWAC) has written a letter to the Congress national vice-president Rahul Gandhi requesting him to get the directions issued from MHA to the Chandigarh Administration for redressing their demands.

PC Sanghi, chairman, FOSWAC, said the federation has taken up various issues of the city residents during the last three years at different levels in the Chandigarh Administration, Chandigarh Housing Board and the Municipal Corporation. Several times during the UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil’s public darbar and Advisory Council Meetings held in last three-years, however, the authorities have failed to address the issues.

Panchkula, January 21
The Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) Centre was inaugurated at Panchkula district court complex, here today. With an intention to maintain public faith in the judiciary through speedy justice, the centre aims to end litigation between the parties as early as possible.

Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana Sanjay Kishan Kaul inaugurated the ADR Centre in the presence of Justice SK Mittal, Executive Chairman, Haryana Legal Services Authority and Justice K Kannan. Kaul said the new centre would play an important role in reducing the number of pending cases. Panel Advocate Manbir Rathi explained the functioning of the centre.

Chief judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary of the DLSA, Sunil Chauhan said “To streamline the Indian legal system the traditional civil law known as Code of Civil Procedure, (CPC), 1908 has also been amended and Section 89 has been introduced. Section 89 (1) of CPC provides an option for the settlement of disputes outside the court.” Chauhan added, “It provides that where it appears to the court that there exist elements, which may be acceptable to the parties, the court may formulate the terms of a possible settlement and refer the same for arbitration, conciliation, mediation or judicial settlement.”

The ADR centre in Panchkula has six mediation and conciliation chambers. Marital disputes at the pre-litigation stage would also be looked into by DLSA, Panchkula. It has six trained mediators.

Chandigarh, January 21
The UT Administration has proposed a hike of 21 per cent in the power tariff in different categories. The proposal was made in the annual revenue requirement (ARR) and tariff petition for the year 2014-15 submitted to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC).

Though the Administration today filed the power tariff petition but the chances of hike in tariff are very bleak, as the power department has not conducted a commercial audit yet.

UT Superintending Engineer (Electricity), MP Singh, said they proposed the hike to cover losses but there were chances that the JERC would reject the petition. He added that the process for conducting commercial audit had started.

Pressing for a power tariff hike, the Administration has stated that it wanted to make up for the loss of Rs 156 crore for the financial year 2013-14.

Once approved by the JERC, the new tariff will become effective from April 1 this year. Last year, the JERC had approved a power tariff hike between 45 and 50 per cent but the JERC had rejected the same.

A senior official said now, the JERC had to take the call on issue of the tariff hike.

At present, consumers are charged Rs 2.30 per unit for 0-150 units. In the petition, the Administration proposed charges of Rs 2.78 per unit for this category of consumers.

In the 150-400 units category, the Administration proposed charges of Rs 4.60 per unit against the existing Rs 4.20 per unit. For above 400 units, the proposed charges are Rs 4.95 per unit against the existing Rs 4.40 per unit.

In the commercial category, the Administration has proposed Rs 4.70 against the present tariff of Rs 4.30 per unit in the 0-150 unit category, Rs 5.30 against the present rate of Rs 4.50 per unit in the 150-400 unit category and Rs 5.70 against the existing rate of Rs 4.70 for above 400 units.

Fixed charges

The UT Administration has proposed fixed charges of Rs 20 per kW per month for domestic consumers for 150 to 400 units. For 400 units and above, the charges proposed are Rs 50 per kW. At present, consumers do not have to pay any fixed charges. In the commercial category, the Administration proposed fixed charges of Rs 30 per kW per month in case of 0 to 150 units and Rs 100 in case of 150 and above units. — TNS

Chandigarh, January 21
The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) today announced that it would decide the tariff for solar power within a week.

Earlier, the Chandigarh Renewal Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) had filed a petition under Sections 61, 62, 86 and 181 of the Electricity Act, 2003, read with the JERC for Goa and Union Territories (procurement of renewable energy) Regulations, 2010, seeking determination of preferential tariff under the net metering for the CREST’s Rooftop Solar Photovolatic Power Project and for the sale of such power to the electricity department of Chandigarh.

In today’s hearing, the commission disposed of the petition and made the announcement on tariff.

Both the departments have already communicated to the commission that they will abide by its orders.

Earlier, the project had hit a roadblock after the electricity department had raised certain objections. To get the project going, the CREST agreed to make amendments and prepared a revised draft proposal, which was submitted before the commission.

The solar power plants were recently installed on several buildings in the city. The excess electricity produced is meant to be sold.

Chandigarh, January 21
You realise the worth of something only when you are deprived of it. Justifying this notion, two families visited the 16-day-old baby girl, who was found abandoned in the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, here on Monday, showing keenness to adopt her.

The baby girl is being necessary nursing care in the children’s ward of the hospital. A woman constable has also been deployed there.

“While her parents, who apparently abandoned her due to her gender, are still unidentified, two families were interested in taking her home. They rushed inside the ward to see the baby today. However, they need to follow a procedure for adoption,” said a police official.

The police advised the families to apply to the Deputy Commissioner for the purpose of adoption.

Before being spotted by the police during the wee hours of Monday, the baby girl braved chill for several hours while lying near the water storage tank in the hospital.

A DDR was lodged at the Sector 17 police station. The police are investigating to locate her parents.

The baby was critical initially as she remained in the open for hours. She was not taken in for basic tests which newborns need to undergo to diagnose infection, if any. It is not yet clear as to how long will the baby be kept in the hospital and where would she be taken after being discharged till the process for adoption completes.

Chandigarh, January 21
A car of a Sector 33 resident, which was stolen and recovered only a month ago, was lifted from the same sector on Monday night.

The silver Honda City (CHO3L4303) was stolen from outside the house of Rachit Malhotra.

Incidentally, the same car was stolen on December 11, 2013, from outside his home. Then, Rachit updated his Facebook status that his car had been lifted. It was recovered from near the Tribune Chowk after one of Rachit’s friend spotted it and informed him.

“It is very strange that my car has been stolen twice right under the nose of the police. I have reported the theft to the police,” Rachit said.

Mohali, January 21
The complaint of misbehaviour lodged against the Punjab ADGP, Rajinder Singh, last week by two women employees of the Gold Gym at Phase VIII have been withdrawn. Both the parties claimed to have reached at a compromise.

Mohali SSP Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti confirmed the development, saying that the complainants, Megha and Gagndeep, have given in writing to the police that they did not want any action in their complaint.

“In their compromise document to the Superintendent of Police (city), Swarndeep Singh, Megha and Gagandeep have stated that there was some misunderstanding with the ADGP, which has been cleared now. So, they do not want any further action in the case,” said SSP Bhatti.

Notably, Megha, manager of the gym, and Gagandeep, the receptionist, had given a written complaint to SSP Bhatti last week, alleging that ADGP Rajinder Singh, a member of the gym, not only had misbehaved with them but also threatened them. On the other hand, Rajinder Singh claimed that he had spoken loudly due to high-volume music, was being played at that time, and did not threaten them.

Following that SSP Bhatti had directed Mohali SP (City) Swarndeep Singh to verify the facts.

Mohali, January 21
High drama was witnessed at Phase IX, where the district administration tried to lift the garbage by deploying its ‘safai karamcharis’ this evening.

As soon as the deputed employees started to clean the area, their fellow colleagues, who are on strike for the past 7 days, reached the spot. They also manhandled the deployed officials while attempting to stop them from lifting the garbage. Mohali SDM Lakhmir Singh, Mohali Municipal Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta and Phase VIII police station officer Gurdeep Singh Saini immediately reached at the spot to control the situation. SDM Lakhmir Singh pacified the agitators by arranging an immediate meeting of their delegation with Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu. The DC assured them that he would talk to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal regarding their demands.

Notably, due to the ongoing strike, no garbage has been lifted from the town. As the door-to-door collection of garbage has also been stopped, the residents have littering in open at every possible site near their houses.

Mohali DC Sidhu, who held a meeting with MC Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta on the issue, showed concerns over the problem. “I have warned the health authorities of breaking out of any epidemic due to garbage heaps all around,” said Sidhu.

Manmohan Singh, a resident of Phase 3B2, said the garbage dumped all around the area stinks. “The administration should make some alternative arrangements to lift the garbage if the ‘safai karamcharis’ were reluctant to call off their strike. Why the common man should suffer,” he said.

Chandigarh, January 21
The issue of meetings of the selection committee being held by the Dean, Instructions-cum-Registrar has reached the office of the Chancellor of Panjab University, Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

The Chancellor’s office has sought information from the Vice Chancellor, Chandigarh, as to under what provisions meetings of the selection committees are being held by the Dean, Instructions-cum-Registrar.

The officer on special duty at the Chancellor’s office, Nagesh Singh, confirmed that a communication was sent to Panjab University advisor and secretary to vice-chancellor, RL Kapoor, on Tuesday to clarify whether any meeting of the selection committee was held and under which provisions it was conducted.

He said a reply from PU authorities in this regard is expected soon.

As per information, PU Vice Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover was not in the city from January 17 to 22 and hence, delegated his statutory function to DUI-cum-registrar AK Bhandari to hold six selection committee meetings of various departments.

As per UGC guidelines and PU regulations under sections 6.1 and 7, selection committee meetings can only be chaired by the Vice Chancellor.

As per Section 10 (5) of the PU Act, if the Vice Chancellor goes on leave, the Chancellor can only appoint persons amongst fellows of the university, for carrying out official work.

Officer on special duty at the Chancellor’s office, Nagesh Singh, denied having any information about PU Vice Chancellor going on leave and appointing DUI-cum-Registrar or any other person of the university to discharge official duty.

Panjab University spokesman said, “The university is following rules and regulations in letter and spirit. Under Chapter III (point 3), notwithstanding anything laid down in this volume and also rules contained in volume III of the calendar, the VC may, at his discretion, delegate any of his powers to the registrar for a specified period.”

The DUI-cum-Registrar holds the selection committee meetings of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology, University Institute of Applied Management Sciences, Universal Institute of Legal Studies, political science, regional centre Ludhiana etc.

Chandigarh, January 21
Panjab University (PU), launched an online application for the registration of Wi-fi facility on the campus today.

The university has provided free Wi-fi connectivity and more than 9,000 students are availing the facility.

PU Dean, Student Welfare, Prof Navdeep Goyal inaugurated the online application by registering on the net portal. Students have to fill the online form and submit the hardcopy to their respective departments. The Wi-fi facility provided initially for a limited period will now be renewed without entering data time and again.

Lauding the new initiative, Prof Goyal said the facility would benefit students as the data would be filled by students themselves, thereby reducing errors.

The facility to change the password will also be provided to students.

He said departments, including Universal Institute of Legal Studies, Department of Law, University Institute of Engineering and Technology and University Business School, had been given the facility to enable Wi-fi account in their respective departments.

The online application was developed by a team comprising Dr Ajay Guleria, Mamta and Anil Kumar at the computer centre, Panjab University.

Director of the PU computer centre, Dr Tankeshwar Kumar, said, “In future, the same database as well as login and password will be used to access internet facility on wired network as well.”

“This requirement has been sought by the Government of India. We need funds and manpower to enable this facility for the users soon,” he added.

Chandigarh, January 21
For the benefit of students, the Panjab University College Development Council (CDC), has decided to increase the amount of college student scholarship from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 per annum.

This was decided during the CDC meeting held under the chairmanship of Dean, CDC, Prof Naval Kishore, here on Tuesday. As many as 315 college students had applied for scholarships under various categories which they will receive during the financial year. Of these, two students are cancer patients, for which the CDC approved the scholarship amounting to Rs 10,000 per annum.

As per norms, 40% scholarships are given to first year students, 25% each to second year and third year students, while 10% to post-graduate students of the colleges.

The meeting also decided that a 25% rebate under tuition fee will be given to the children of college teachers, who had joined self-finance courses. Sources said 11 teachers had applied for attending international and national seminars. Of these, three college teachers have been given Rs 25,000 to attend international seminars, while eight college teachers will receive Rs 7,500 to attend national seminars.

The CDC also decided that seminars to create awareness regarding crime against women will be conducted in four colleges of Punjab.