The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

Consumer forum slaps fine on MC
Ritika Jha Palial
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26
Municipal Corporation, Mani Majra, had been penalised for failing to allot house number to the complainant, despite charging Rs 50 as fee. District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Municipal Corporation, Manimajra, to refund Rs 50 to the complainant and pay Rs 2000 towards cost of litigation.

Complainant Jadu Ram Anchal alleged that he constructed a house attached with house number 1139/6, Mohalla Gobindpura, after taking loan from his department and deposited the necessary fee of Rs.50 along with map and application. The complainant gave an application dated 26.10.1984 for allotting the necessary number to his house.

Later, the complainant on 14.6.2013 gave a letter to the MC for providing the copy of allotment letter to him.

The complainant alleged that the MC sent a letter dated 2.7.2013 stating that the copy of no-objection certificate for electricity connection is enclosed for the house of the complainant. The complainant returned the original letter with a copy of application dated 26.10.1984 stating that he had demanded the allotment letter and not the NOC for water or electricity.

However, the MC failed to issue the allotment letter, the complainant stated.

“When the opposite party was not to issue the allotment letter to the complainant, it certainly gave a wrong direction to the complainant to deposit the fee of Rs. 50 to proceed further in the matter,” the forum observed.

NIC told to pay Rs 2.28 lakh
Our Correspondent

Mohali, March 26
The Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services), Mohali, has allowed an application moved by Gurjeet Singh Bajwa and others, and directed National Insurance Company Limited, Panchkula, to pay Rs 2,28,372 to the claimant.

M/s Swadesh Roadlines, in which Bajwa is a partner, owned a truck, which was insured with the respondent insurance company. The truck met with an accident and was repaired by spending Rs 4,92,356 regarding which the claim was lodged with the insurance company. The respondents paid only Rs 2,26,000 upon which the applicants filed an application.

The Lok Adalat directed the respondents to pay Rs 2,28,372 to the applicants along with Rs 5,000 as cost of litigation within 30 days.

CRIME

2 quintals of poppy husk seized, 2 held
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 26
The Mohali Police have arrested two persons and seized two quintals of poppy husk from them. The accused were arrested from a special naka here today. The accused, identified as Harnider Singh and Ravinder Singh, both residents of Ropar, tried to dodge the police and said they were carrying a dead body in the bag and were in a great hurry. But when checked, the police recovered the poppy husk.

The narcotics were being carried in a Scorpio (PBQ 4632). The car has also been impounded by the police.

The Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Gursharan Singh Sandhu, said the accused had brought the poppy husk from Uttar Pardesh and were on their way to Ropar.

A special naka was laid at Khanpur Chowk after a tip off, said the Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police.

“They seem to be professional smugglers”, said SSP Sandhu.

The Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police said further investigations are on in this regard.

A case has been registered against the accused. Both would be produced before the court tomorrow.

25-year-old married woman found dead
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 26
A 25-year-old married woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her residence in Kalka this evening. The victim has been identified as Barkha. According to the police, they got intimation about the incident from the general hospital authorities. The police are working on all the theories. The cause of death is said to be poisoning.

Possibility of foul play cannot be ruled out, said the police.

The body has been kept in the mortuary of General Hospital, Sector 6. The postmortem will be conducted tomorrow.

Station house officer of the Kalka Police Station Inspector Ajay Disodia said they are on with the investigations.

The exact cause of the death will be ascertained only after the postmortem, said the Station house officer of the Kalka Police Station.

SPORTS

CHA’s tryst with goof-ups continues
Now, players from other academies are allegedly representing the state-run institute in tournaments
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26
In a shocking revelation, it has been found that office-bearers of the UT Sports Department are running the Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA) wrongfully. Adding to the list of goof-ups, despite having a bunch of cream players, selected through trials conducted across the country, players from other academies were caught representing CHA in various competitions.

In the tournaments held in Amritsar and Jalandhar, at least two players from outside the academy were seen representing the institution. The action was undoubtedly initiated by the coach deliberately, right under the nose of Director Sports and Joint Director Sports.

It is worth mentioning here that such academies are run by the UT Administration and only those enrolled in the institute can represent it in the tournaments.

Earlier, on March 25, the laidback approach of office-bearers in running the hockey academy was exposed in the same columns. It was revealed as to how overage players continue to hold scholarships of the state-run academy.

First blunder

In the 11th All-India Maharaja Ranjit Singh Junior Gold Cup, held from December 16 to 21 (2013) in Amritsar, two players from outside the CHA represented Chandigarh XI, Sector 42. Notably, despite having a world-class goalkeeper (name withheld), who has been adjudged best player in many tournaments, the coach asked a goalkeeper of Ratwara Sahib Academy to play for CHA in the tournament.

The goalkeeper (Parampreet) from Ratwara Sahib Academy played over four matches. According to sources, the regular goalkeeper of the CHA was dropped after he resented the approach of the coach.

The team did not even have a backup goalkeeper.

First denied entry, later welcomed

In the second instance, a player Milanpreet alias Milonpreet, represented the Chandigarh Football Academy (CFA) in two major tournaments including 11th All-India Maharaja Ranjit Singh Junior Gold Cup and Mata Parkash Kaur Hockey Cup held in the month of January, 2014. Not only this, he even represented the CFA in all the local tournaments including inter-schools and at other states. However, the player is not an official trainee of the academy. According to the information, Milanpreet Singh was even excluded from the academy after he was found overage in 2012. His mean was 16.5 years (bone age-16-17 years).

With the help of coach and officials, Milanpreet was, however, admitted to Government Model High School, Sector 42, which is the school for trainees of CFA, and since then he is a regular part of the team. The team was fielded as Government Model School Chandigarh, Sector 42. Notably, despite being declared overage, Milanpreet alias Milonpreet, featured in all the matches of the CFA and also represented Chandigarh in various nationals. He even avails all the facilities, meant for trainees of the CFA, and wears jersey No. 15 in major tournaments. The team, however, failed to win either of the tournaments.

The catching eye

The entire failing has been revealed by The Tribune team. The documents have not only revealed the major loopholes, but also the level of seriousness of the Finance Secretary, Director Sports, Joint Director Sports and coach BS Randhawa in running and supervising the claimed state-of-art academy.

Notably, Advisor to the Administrator KK Sharma (also president of the Chandigarh Sports Council) has been kept in dark about the whole scenario. “It is my wish to field the players. It was a club team. I will answer to all the questions to the official of UT Sports Department, if they ask,” said BS Randhawa, present coach. He failed to answer as to why the player who was declared overage in 2012 is still a part of the team.

Later, Randhawa refused to answer any further questions asked by this reporter.

Joint Director Sports JPS Sidhu said, “I am not aware of anything.”

Points to ponder over

For what reasons, a player who has been found overage and denied admission is fielded and allowed to use platform and facilities of CHA?

If the academy played under the banner of a club, why only two players were included in the team?

Where was the Sports Council and Sports Department during tournaments allotment to CHA? Where was the department while checking the list of the participating players?

Who is responsible for the goof-ups?

Overage players in the academy?

Outsiders representing CHA?

Reducing seven-year contract to six years?

Hosts Hansraj Cricket Academy steer into final
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 26
Hosts Hansraj Cricket Academy, Panchkula, defeated Chandigarh’s Eleven Star Cricket Academy by 42 runs to steer into the final of 2nd Smt Kaushalya Devi Memorial Inter-Academy Cricket League for Boys (Under-15) Tournament, here today.

Batting first, the winning side scored 141 runs for 6 wickets in the allotted 25 overs. The team’s inning was well studded with a 50-run contribution by Shivam Gulati. He was supported by Tushar Goyal, who scored quick fire 35 runs. Later, Paras played an unbeatable knock of 17 runs to seal the winning target.

In reply, Eleven Star Cricket Academy failed to face Hansraj’s bowling attack and bundled out on a mere total of 99 runs. Bowler Gaurav Gupta claimed three for 10 runs. Mandeep Singh claimed the same share for 12 runs and Paras took two for 14 runs.

Brief scores

Hansraj Cricket Academy, Panchkula-141 for 6 in 25 overs (Shivam Gulati 50, Tushar Goyal 35, Paras 17 not out, Digvijay Rathee 15 not out)

Chandigarh Eleven Star Cricket Academy-99 runs all out in 22.2 overs (Aryan Garg 27, Shivam Garg 20, Ujjawal Sharma 15, Gaurav Gupta three for 10 runs, Mandeep Singh three for 12 runs, Paras two for 14 runs)

Asian Tournament of Champions
Local golfer Karandeep performs well on Day1
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26
Local golfer Karandeep Singh Kochhar displayed efficient golfing skills on the first day of the Asian Tournament of Champions in Hua Hin, Thailand, today. A student of St Johns’ High School, Sector 26, Kochhar is currently holding 4th with the leader at six-under.

The 54-hole stroke play format (3 rounds), ATOC -2014, is being played at Mountain and Lakes courses. The courses are both picturesque and pose a challenging layout for players.

A total of 65 players from China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Taiwan and Thailand are participating in the championship.

Scores:

Day 1-Ladies (U-14) Leader at 74, Ashvika Gogia-80, Riya Ahuja-82, Shruthi Shenoy-85

Ladies (15-19) Leader at 72, Seher Atwal-80, Amrita Anand-82

Men (U-14) Leader at 66, Karandeep Kochhar-72, Shobhit Gupta-85

Men (15-19) Leader at 70, Saptak Talwar-77, Sarthak Kohli-90