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SGPC opts to keep mum on Sukhbir-Phoolka row
Subsidy on power, water won’t go, says Badal
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Land reforms must to boost rural economy: Experts
Cong approaches Harbhajan, Yuvraj for Amritsar seat
Patiala MC’s poor show may cost SAD-BJP dear
Will contest on development plank: Sukhbir
Brahmpura back in action, but road ahead not easy
Bajwa loath to contest from Gurdaspur
Infighting forces SAD to field ‘outsider’ from Fatehgarh Sahib
No pact with Cong: Manpreet
Atta-dal scheme re-launch Dy CM reviews arrangements for Modi rally
Ensure greater transparency, EC urged
Moga clash: Week on, no arrests
Annual physicians’ meet begins today LPG consumers left high and dry
Another concession to Sikhs in the US
Will absorb local govt teachers, state tells HC
Man, kin get 7-year
jail for dowry death
Varsities held responsible for delay in re-evaluation
Ex-MP’s son booked for duping sister
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SGPC opts to keep mum on Sukhbir-Phoolka row
Amritsar, February 19 Both the premiere Sikh bodies, the SGPC and DSGMC, are tight-lipped on the issue. Treading with caution, DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK said he would comment on the issue only after he went through the accounts of the DSGMC. “It will be inappropriate to make a statement without verifying facts,” he said. SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh also said he would comment only after checking the accounts. However, former DSGMC president Paramjeet Singh Sarna said Phoolka had not charged a penny for contesting cases of riot victims during his tenure at the Delhi gurdwara body. He said Phoolka had charged the DSGMC for other cases, and had accepted whatever was given to him. He alleged Sukhbir was lying on the issue. He challenged the Deputy CM to prove his charge. SGPC sources confirmed that the Sikh body paid nothing as fee to Phoolka at least in the last eight years. On the other hand, Phoolka clarified that he was not associated with the SGPC over the riots issue. "Even after my association with the SGPC post-2010, I didn't charge a penny, although the SGPC was paying fee to other member of a lawyers' panel formed to contest the cases. I was offered a fee, but I did not accept it". He clarified that Rs 22,000 being mentioned as "fee" paid to him by the SGPC was actually the award money given to him by the latter at a felicitation ceremony at Baba Bakala. "I charge
Rs 22,000 for a one-hour conference while my fee to appear in court cases is much more," he added. He said he had been associated with the DSGMC since 1985, but had not charged anything. He said he had contested most of the cases on behalf of the Citizen Justice Committee and the 1984 Carnage Justice Committee. On allegations by PS Sarna against him in 2010, he said Sarna had later clarified that the amount he had mentioned was spent on fighting the legal battle and was not the fee paid to him. Tytler told to appear in court New Delhi: Congress leader Jagdish Tytler was on Wednesday directed by a Delhi court to appear before it on May 31 in connection with a defamation case filed against him by SC lawyer HS
Phoolka, who is appearing for victims in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. Phoolka had alleged that the Congress leader made a derogatory remark about him during a programme aired on a private news channel on September 7, 2004.
— PTI
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Subsidy on power, water won’t go, says Badal
Chandigarh, February 19 Highlighting the crises in agriculture, Badal said small problems over the years had assumed alarming proportions and “we are in a do or die situation”. “It is unfortunate that farmers are not making use of other subsidies, such as those on drip agriculture and solar energy panels,” he said. Also, the farmers were not taking advantage of the subsidy being provided on machines used for direct sowing of paddy and to remove paddy stubble, he said. Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), said the Centre had earmarked Rs 7 lakh crore for loans under different schemes of which only about Rs 50,000 crore had gone to actual farmers. The rest had been gobbled by agro companies, he alleged. “While the Centre and the state governments awarded relief to employees by raising their salaries from time to time, they were stone deaf to the farmers’ pleas for help.” Badal announced that the Pepsu Tenancy Act would be amended to ensure that landlords were paid lease rent as per the prevailing market rates. He constituted a panel headed by the Chairman of the Punjab State Farmers’ Commission, Dr GS Kalkat. The panel will suggest measures to improve the economic condition of the farming community. MoUs signed
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Land reforms must to boost rural economy: Experts
Chandigarh, February 19 Rural economists, policy makers and farmers, who had gathered here to participate in the four-day agriculture summit, were of the view that agriculture had become unviable and immediate policy decisions were needed for the economic upliftment of farmers. Integrated crop models, giving individual insurance to farmers (rather than group crop insurance), making farmers a part of foodgrain trade policies and ensuring remunerative prices after taking into account the input costs were other immediate measures that were threshed out by various stakeholders for resurrecting the rural economy. They felt that Punjab had the resources and vision to start a movement to remove rural indebtedness and prepare a model for the entire country to emulate. Former Union Agriculture Minister Sompal Shastri said Punjab could improve its rural economy by providing skill development to rural youth in agriculture and allied sectors. “Since the size of landholdings is decreasing, the state government should legalise land lease agreements and make these enforceable so that a small farmer can take adjoining land on lease and crop a larger area. Punjab should go in for diversification but it will be successful only if farmers are assured of a good price for their produce. Shastri alleged the Food Security Bill would have a huge financial burden on the government. He said the money could have been utilised for creating better infrastructure in irrigation and agriculture. T Haque, former chairman of the Commission of Agricultural Costs and Prices, said financial institutions needed to come forward to help farmers.
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Animals on display show signs of stress
While every effort was made to ensure the comfort of visitors at the Progressive Punjab Agriculture Summit, little thought was given to the welfare of the cattle on display at the exhibition in Chappar Chiri. Horses, buffaloes, cows, goats and sheep of special breeds were made to stand for hours in small enclosures for eight hours or more. The price of some of these animals is in lakhs. Alarmed at the crowds around them, they showed signs of restlessness and anger. Shutterbugs bug
With people constantly touching them and clicking photographs, the animals looked disturbed. Baljinder Singh of Moga, whose horse of the Neeli Ravi breed was on display, said: "His movement restricted, my horse is exhibiting symptoms of stress. He is desperate to break free."
Milk yield down
Amrik Singh claimed that the milk yield of his "cross-Jersey" cows had come down by 7 kg-10 kg in the past three days. "They are not eating well or drinking enough water." Sher Singh from Barnala complained that he had brought his cattle on the request of the Punjab Government but the arrangements at the exhibition were far from satisfactory.
Money-spinner
He joined his father’s poultry business after clearing the IAS (prelim) exam. Today, Rahuljit Sidhu (35) of Malerkotla is a proud owner of one of the biggest poultry farms in the region with an annual turnover of Rs 45 crore. “Our two-storeyed poultry farm, spread over 25 acres in Naudhrani village, has more than five lakh birds that lay over three lakh eggs daily,” said Rahuljit Singh. He said the unit was totally mechanised and was run by 200 employees. A biogas plant at the farm was being run on bird droppings, he added.
Transportation cost
Participants alleged they were not paid for bringing animals to the exhibition. “I have been here for four days and have spent a lot of money on my prized possession, a rare breed horse,” said a resident of Bathinda. Others claimed that government officials had promised to pay for the transportation of their cattle to and fro. But they had been left high and dry.
— Akash Ghai
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Those awarded at the farm summit Farm machinery makers: Nachhhar Singh (Barnala); Manmohan Singh, Amar Singh & SP Singh (Ludhiana); Sarbjit Singh (Amargarh); Malkiat Singh (Jalandhar); Joginder Singh (Ramdas); Surjit Singh (Jandiala Guru); Gurtej Singh (Bathinda) and Surinder Singh (Rajpura) Farmers honoured
Amritsar: Jagtar Singh, Vikram Partap Singh, Ravi Inder Singh and Aman Nijjar; SBS Nagar: Avtar Singh, Ashwani Kumar and Vikramjeet Singh; Patiala: Jaspal Singh, Gurpreet Shergill, Davinder Singh, Sartaj Brar and Karamveer Sidhu; Hoshiarpur: Harprem Chand, Deepak Puri, Khushwant Singh and Paramjeet Singh; SAS Nagar: Baljinder Singh, Hardeep Singh and Harchand Singh; Moga: Tarlochan Singh, Gurbaksh Smalsar and Gurbaksh Bajeke; Jalandhar: Paduman Singh, Baljinder Singh and Daljeet Singh; Kapurthala: Prabhraj Singh, Raghbir Singh and Sunil Kumar Sharma; Ferozepur: Balwant Singh, Dalbir Singh, Jagdeep Sandhu and Gurvinder Kang; Mansa: Nirmal Singh, Niranjan Singh and Balbir Singh; Fatehgarh Sahib: Ranjit Singh, Gagandeep Singh and Balwinder Kaur; Barnala: Simratpal Singh, Gurharveer Singh and Badal Singh; Tarn Taran: Jasdev Singh, Gurdial Singh, Narinder Singh and Harinderpal Bajwa; Ludhiana: Jaswinder Kaur, Gobinder Singh, Manjit Singh and Suba Jagir Singh; Muktsar: Ravinder Brar, Gursewak Singh, Sukhjinder Singh, Manjit Singh Thadewal and Manjit Singh Chak
Sherewala; Bathinda: Iqbal Sidhu, Darshan Sidhu, Janta Singh and Rajinderpal Singh; Fazilka : Surinderpal Singh, Randhir Grewal and Sulakhan Grewal; Ropar: Surmukh Singh, Ashwani Shukla, Gurdeep Singh and Dalwinder Singh;
Faridkot: Bhupinder Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Jasveer Singh, Kuldeep Singh Brar; Sangrur: - Kulwant Singh, Jaspal Singh, Kuldeep Sngh and Ranjeet Sidhu; Gurdaspur: Harjant Singh, Gurdial Singh and Jagroop Singh; Pathankot: Kansraj, Rakesh Dadwal and Kamaljeet Singh.
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Pak minister also plans agri summit
Channu (Muktsar), February 19 He said in Pakistan, the farming community had remained ignored for a long time and such an event could prove a game-changer. Javed along with several senior officials visited Channu village to observe a 15-MW private bio-mass energy plant. But, he failed to visit his ancestral house in Jalandhar district as he was not aware of its whereabouts.
— TNS
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Hold unemployment summit, Cong dares CM
Chandigarh, February 19 Khaira alleged the “agriculture summit was nothing but a farce, drama and an image-building exercise by the Badals at the cost of the tax-payers money”. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s claim of bringing a third revolution in the agriculture sector was a laughable and a lofty statement in view of the colossal debt burden of Rs 33,394 crore on the farmers of Punjab, he alleged. “We dare Sukhbir to hold an unemployment summit, preferably at a central point like Ludhiana,” he said.
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Cong approaches Harbhajan, Yuvraj for Amritsar seat
New Delhi, February 19 The Congress central leadership is learnt to have opened channels of communication with cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh to check out whether they are keen to contest from Amritsar. The response from both is said to have been lukewarm so far. It has been learnt that talks with both star cricketers have not yet yielded positive results, though Congress sources said the matter had not been closed yet. “Harbhajan and Yuvraj have been approached but both of them have active years of cricket left… Talks are on,” said a source in the All India Congress Committee. Yuvraj was the priciest cricketer in the recently held IPL auctions. Harbhajan, for his part, would like to consolidate his career in international cricket before he takes the political plunge. Actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar’s name has also been proposed. A Punjabi, Babbar is seen as a suitable contestant considering his parents had settled in Amritsar post-Partition. Babbar said, “The party high command would have to take a decision on this. So far, none of the top leaders have approached me. If someone does, I will see what to do after speaking to my supporters.” He currently represents the Firozabad (UP) Lok Sabha constituency. But, some Congress sources say it might be difficult for the central leadership to spare Babbar from Uttar Pradesh, a state politically critical for any party. A top leader involved with the screening process of candidates for Punjab (currently five seats not held by the Congress, including Amritsar, are being discussed) said, “We are considering celebrity candidates from Amritsar along with the official party candidates. We have a good number of official candidates as well, including OP Soni, Sukh Sarkaria and Lali Majithia.” A screening committee meeting for Punjab candidates will be held shortly to take the final call on potential candidates from the five non-Congress seats in the state after which the matter would go to the central election committee headed by Sonia Gandhi.
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Patiala MC’s poor show may cost SAD-BJP dear
Patiala, February 19 Sources say projects worth several crore had not been completed due to paucity of funds and lack of political will in the past five years. The SAD-BJP alliance has been in power in the city for over seven years. Residents are unhappy with the performance of the council especially since incumbent Mayor Amrinder Bazaz has failed to get pending works completed. He was elected in April 2013. Presently, the sewer lines and the city bus service are being set up with central funds. Sources said four big projects envisioned are yet to kick-start. These include solid waste management, shifting of dairies, canal-based water system and the beautification of Rajindra Lake. Moreover, the roads in the city are in a bad state and garbage dumps can be seen everywhere. Patiala MP Preneet Kaur said, “The state government has failed to release enough funds for the MC and therefore, projects haven’t been completed. The roads are broken, drinking water supply is poor and the dairies have not been shifted out.” Mayor Amrinder Bazaz said the roads would be repaired in a few months. “All the other projects will be completed in another two years. Officials have begun work on the solid waste management and the canal based water projects,” said Bajaj, adding Preneet didn’t bring any funds for the city. Sanjeev Bittu, leader of Opposition in the MC, said, “Preneet Kaur got Rs 25 crore sanctioned from the Centre for starting the city bus service. She also brought funds for laying the sewer lines. The fact that 17 acres of MC land has been sold shows that the corporation is cash-strapped.” Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, who hails from Patiala, said the Congress was misleading the people as there was no shortage of funds. When questioned about the poor functioning of the MC, Rakhra said, “The projects will kick-start soon.”
Charges & counter-charges The state government has failed to release enough funds for the MC and therefore, projects haven't been completed. The roads are broken and the dairies have not been shifted out. — Preneet Kaur, Patiala MP Most projects will be completed in another two years. Officials have begun work on the solid waste management and the canal-based water projects. — Amrinder Bazaz, mayor
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Will contest on development plank: Sukhbir
Fazilka, February 19 Deputy Chief Minister landed at 1.30 pm, two hours behind the schedule. He evaded a media query on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Ludhiana constituency Advocate HS Phoolka’s remark to prove his (Sukhbir’s) allegation that he took fee for fighting cases of anti-Sikh riot victims. All Sukhbir said: “Yaar eh gal na karo (Do not talk about it).” He did not reply on the issue of allotting Lok Sabha ticket to sitting SAD MP Sher Singh Ghubaya from Ferozepur constituency. The Deputy Chief Minister claimed that the successful hosting of Progressive Punjab Investment Summit had provided a platform to the state to enter an even bigger league. He launched a statewide drive to equip more than 12,000 villages of the state with modern facilities such as round-the-clock clean water supply and sewerage system. “The setting up of RO plants, particularly in the border belt, is the government’s priority,” Sukhbir said. Urging people to come forward to take benefits of state’s welfare schemes, he said that within two to three days, more than 16,000 beneficiaries of the Atta-Dal scheme would get blue cards and more than 2,100 tubewell connections would be released within a week to farmers of Jalalabad. The Deputy Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of CC Flooring in all streets.
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Brahmpura back in action, but road ahead not easy
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had long been hinting that the senior party leader would be entrusted with a key responsibility and with the sitting MP, Rattan Singh Ajnala, apparently facing rough weather it paved the way for Brahampura’s comeback, though not in the state’s political arena. What worked to Brahmpura’s advantage is the fact that the Chief Minister considers him as a tried and trusted colleague. This became evident on many occasions when Badal made no bones of how much he admired Brahampura. Among other factors is that it is the home turf of Brahmpura as had contested the assembly elections from Khadoor Sahib assembly constituency in 2012 and his native village falls in the area. By allotting the ticket to Brahmpura, the SAD is also hoping to cut down on the anti-incumbency that was evident from the victory margin of Ajnala. The margin dipped to 32,260 votes in the last Lok Sabha elections as compared with 56,934 votes in the 2004 elections. The party’s decision seemed to be affected by the controversy surrounding the revelations made in the Bhola drug racket case busted by the Punjab Police recently. The road ahead is not easy for Brahmpura, as he not only has to fight with the Congress, but also set the ruling party’s house in order in his constituency. Of the nine assembly segments in his Lok Sabha constituency, three seats — Khadoor Sahib, Kapurthala and Sultanpur Lodhi — have Congress legislators. Besides, Brahmpura doesn’t share good equations with Tarn Taran MLA Harmeet Singh Sandhu, Baba Bakala MLA Manjeet Singh Manna, and Jandiala Guru MLA Baljeet Singh Jalal
Usma. Tough task
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Bajwa loath to contest from Gurdaspur
New Delhi, February 19 Bajwa has expressed unwillingness to contest the elections, saying this would confine him to one constituency and impede electioneering in other parts of the state. He reportedly expressed preference for the Amritsar seat when approached by a central leader, an aide of AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Bajwa's name is not on the panel of probable candidates for the Amritsar seat. Bajwa wants Capt Vikram Singh to be nominated for the Gurdaspur seat. The latter's name has also been recommended by PC
Chacko.
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Infighting forces SAD to field ‘outsider’ from Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 19 However, the warning had no effect on the rebel groups who continued to oppose the view points of their detractors. There were heated exchanges and even scuffle between two groups of the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) during a protest dharna near the district administrative complex on January 15. The SAD allotted the ticket to Kulwant Singh, a realtor, even though he has no base in the constituency spread over nine assembly segments in three districts, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana and Sangrur. The announcement has caused ripples among the voters in the district as Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, his son Inder Iqbal Singh and Bassi Pathana MLA Nirmal Singh’s wife and Faridkot MP Parmajit Kaur Gulshan were among the key
contenders. Why the rift
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No pact with Cong: Manpreet
Chandigarh, February 19 Speaking to The Tribune, Manpreet said there was no truth in the statement. He said the Sanjha Morcha would hold a meeting tomorrow at the residence of former Chief Minister Surjit Singh
Barnala to decide its poll strategy. All four constituents of the Sanjha Morcha, including the PPP, would meet to shortlist names of the candidates, he
said. “There will be no alliance with the Congress,” he said. Speaking on the matter, CPI leader Dr Joginder Dayal said various options were open before the
Sanjha Morcha. “All the options will be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting to work out a strategy,” he said. Senior PPP leader Bhagwant Mann alleged government doctors had been told to raise funds for Modi’s Jagraon rally. He said the Election Commission and other agencies should hold an inquiry in this connection. He said it was unfortunate that the doctors were being made to raise funds for the rally.
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Atta-dal scheme re-launch
Chandigarh, February 19 In a statement issued here, Bajwa said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon had “quietly” re-launched the scheme at Sultanpur
Lodhi. He alleged Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal who had postponed the re-launch of the scheme twice in two months had stayed away from the function to avoid direct criticism. “Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son who don’t lose any opportunity to lay foundation stones and distribute development funds did not launch the scheme knowing it is a sham,” he alleged. He claimed for the last more than a year, the scheme was not operational and the poor were being deprived of their right of food. “PUNSUP, the nodal agency for the scheme, has gone bankrupt because the state government has not reimbursed over Rs 4,700 crore spent by the agency on the scheme,” he added.
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Ensure greater transparency, EC urged
Chandigarh, February 19 Manpreet Singh Badal, president, People's Party of Punjab, alleged the EC and CEOs were toothless tigers. "They talk more and work less to check malpractices in the electoral system. Though it has done some good work in the recent past, it is ineffective in conducting the elections in a free and fair manner. The use of money and muscle power in the elections is still rampant," he alleged. He claimed Pakistan had come out with a far better system than India as far as the appointment of CEO and its members was concerned. There was a legal provision to appoint the EC on the basis of consensus arrived at an all-party meeting, he said, adding that Pakistan had also made a provision to hold elections under the command of a caretaker and neutral government. PPCC spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira said there should be complete transparency in the functioning of the CEO's office. "Since the elections are conducted on behalf of the people of the country, they should be informed about every decision of the CEO, he said, adding that the CEO from Punjab should be sent to some other state and vice-versa to avoid the possibility of his working under the influence of the ruling party. Senior most officials should be appointed since officers with 10-15 years of remaining service were susceptible to political pressure, he said.
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Moga clash: Week on, no arrests
Moga, February 19 “More than 500 truck operators have now become our members,” he claimed. He alleged that Jain was trying to capture the
union office with the support of the local administration and the police. In the clash last week, four persons were injured. Though the police registered a criminal case against 80 persons, none has been arrested.
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Another concession to Sikhs in the US
Washington, February 19 Last month, Singh was told his turban was not allowed in his driver's licence photo, effectively barring him from renewing his licence. Taking up the case, SALDEF argued against DVS's explicit policy on religious accommodation. "As a result of your letter and the agent's actions, the department is working to remind driver's licence examination staff of the process for renewals specifically related to accommodating the Sikh turban," said DVS Director Patricia
McCormick. — PTI
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Will absorb local govt teachers, state tells HC
Chandigarh, February 19 The undertaking to this effect came during the hearing of a bunch of two petitions placed before Justice Rajesh Bindal against the state of Punjab and other respondents by Harnek Kumar and other petitioners working in the schools managed by the Department of Local Government. The petitioners had contended that in terms of policy decision notified in March 2006, as many as 3,949 government primary schools were transferred to the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat, while another 232 government primary schools were transferred to the Department of Local Government. In these schools, the teachers were appointed by the departments concerned. The petitioner added a public notice was issued by Punjab Director, Public Instructions (Elementary Education), inviting applications from ETT teachers working in the schools run by the Zila Parishads in the Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Department to fill up the posts lying vacant in the Education Department by way of transfer. The petitioners added those teachers working in the schools managed by the Local Government were being discriminated against; and should have also been given fair chance of appointment in the Education Department on transfer basis. As the case came up for resumed hearing, a short affidavit of Director, Public Instructions (EE), Darshan Kaur, was placed before Justice Bindal. It stated: “In terms of decision taken by the government, the teachers working in the schools managed by Urban Local Bodies will also be absorbed as per requirement in the respective districts”. Satisfied with the stand, the counsel for the petitioners submitted that the prayer made in the present petition had been rendered fruitless in view of the decision by the state. Taking a note of the decision and the assertion by the petitioners’ counsel, Justice Bindal closed the case as fruitless.
Issue at hand
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Man, kin get 7-year
jail for dowry death
Gurdaspur, February 19 The court, designated the court for crimes against women, came down heavily on the convicts and recorded in its judgment that “the convicts have committed a heinous crime of torturing, harassing and pressurising the deceased, Gurpreet Kaur, by regularly raising the demand for dowry. All three also created miserable circumstances in the house, compelling the poor, helpless girl to take her life.” When the question of providing leniency to father-in-law Gulzar Singh was raised by his lawyer on the plea “that he was an old man and could hardly walk”, the court shot down the appeal by saying: “So far as the convict, Gulzar Singh, is concerned, he too does not deserve leniency because being the head of the family, it was his pious duty to protect the life of his daughter-in-law by providing a congenial atmosphere in the house.” The sisters-in-law, Sarabjit Kaur and Manjit Kaur, and their father were present in the court when the judgment was pronounced. They were sentenced under Section 304-B (dowry death) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Gurpreet was married to Gurjeet Singh of Jogowal Jattan village in the district in January 2006. Just two months after her marriage, her husband went to Dubai in search of work. The husbands of both Sarabjit and Manjit were already working in Dubai. Gurpreet, the daughter of a marginal farmer from Kot Hiroe Ram village, was tortured regularly for having brought insufficient dowry. Two months after her marriage, she was asked to bring Rs 50,000. Once the amount was paid by her father Surmail Singh after selling off his paddy crop, she was asked to bring more money. The proverbial last straw in the camel’s back came when, in July 2006, she was again asked to bring Rs 2 lakh. Unable to bear the torture, Gurpreet had, on August 7, 2006, informed her brother on the phone about the extreme step she was about to take. Minutes later, she died after consuming some poisonous substance. Her husband, along with the husbands of Sarabjit and Manjit, was in Dubai at the time of the incident. A day after Gurpreet had committed suicide, a case was registered against the three.
The case
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Varsities held responsible for delay in re-evaluation
Chandigarh, February 19 Justice Bindal has asserted: “Though a disclaimer is made by the universities/educational institutes that they will not be responsible for any error or delay but, in my opinion, the time of accountability has come.” The ruling came on a petition filed by Sunita Devi against the State of Punjab and another respondent. She had applied for the post of Punjabi mistress, but cleared the additional paper of Punjab in revaluation, the result of which was declared after the last date for submission of application forms. Taking up the matter, Justice Bindal asserted many times errors occurred in the checking of answer sheets. “It is also seen that in many cases after re-evaluation, a failed candidate is passed or gets more marks than what were awarded earlier. As a result, many times with the change, a candidate may become entitled to a gold medal being a topper in the university, though at the initial stage, someone else may have been declared first or there may be change in the division on the basis of percentage of marks obtained. “As a result of the anomalies in evaluation of answer books, re-evaluation of which is sought by a candidate, he may be deprived of admission in the next higher class or may not be eligible for appointment in any service for which the cut-off date may expire before the result of re-evaluation is declared. This service is not being provided free of cost. Specified fee is charged for the purpose.” Before parting with the order, Justice Bindal directed that the order’s copy be sent to Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana, along with UT Home Secretary, for forwarding it “by email to all the quarters concerned for implementation and necessary action”.
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The controversy over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots refuses to die down. The latest to join the row are Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and AAP Ludhiana candidate Harvinder Singh Phoolka with the former alleging that Phoolka had charged fee for fighting the cases of riot victims.
Speaking at the concluding ceremony of the four-day Progressive Punjab Agriculture Summit here, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that farmers in Punjab would continue to get subsidy on power and water supply “till the time I am alive”.
He said experts had a different view on the issue but “I am convinced that if farmers were not given subsidies, indebtedness would have risen from Rs 30,000 crore to more than Rs 60,000 crore”.
New Delhi, February 19
The People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) today said it was not holding any talks with the Congress on sharing seats for the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
A Congress leader in Delhi today said that the party was prepared for an alliance with PPP president Manpreet Singh Badal and ready to field him from Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. The leader has also said the party was ready to offer Faridkot seat to the CPI, if it agreed to ally with the Congress.
Amritsar, February 19